Internet advertising chiefs are touring regional newsrooms to find out how their industry can help the local press and small businesses.

The Internet Advertising Bureau UK has met with representatives from Reach plc after starting a nationwide tour which will also involve MPs and business leaders.

The roadshow began in Newcastle last week where Paul Rowland, editorial director Reach plc’s for Live network, and Katie Collings, pictured, breaking news editor at Newcastle-based daily The Chronicle, were among those present.

Similar events will be taking place in Stoke, Leeds, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Reach plc worked with the IAB on the Newcastle roundtable and will do the same at the upcoming events in Stoke and Leeds.

Jon Mew, chief executive of IAB UK, said: “Readership has increasingly shifted online, but local news publishers remain central to communities up and down the country.

“They provide people with a free-to-access source of news, give small businesses a unique platform to tap into a local audience, and – most vitally – continue to campaign on behalf of regional issues.

“To protect this, we need to protect the reciprocal relationship between local news, SMEs and digital advertising, and that’s what this roadshow is all about.

“We’ll be bringing together MPs, local press and business leaders to hear first-hand about what further support and resources enterprises need to thrive online.”

Nigel Black, head of product marketing at Reach, added: “As the UK’s largest commercial news provider, we passionately believe in the value of ad-funded local press to our communities.

“Over the past decades, we have navigated the transition from print to digital and, as a result, regional media is louder than ever.

“It’s in all of our best interest to ensure that it remains vibrant, robust and free for anyone to access – and that requires a collaborative approach encompassing local government, the digital ad industry and local media.

“This sits at the heart of the IAB’s roadshow that got off to a great start in Newcastle and we’re looking forward to the productive discussions yet to come.”