Rachel Shenton Backs Local Newspaper Week

Oscar-winner Rachel Shenton is backing local newspapers ahead of the industry’s annual Local Newspaper Week which kicks off on Monday with the launch of the Making a Difference online vote.

Rachel, who wrote and starred in the short film The Silent Child, has written an article to be published during LNW in which she explains why she believes local papers “do so much good for the communities they serve.”

Her article will be published in local newspapers participating in LNW, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, as the Making a Difference online public vote for the best local newspaper campaign goes live.

Twenty-seven powerful local newspaper campaigns have been showcased on the Making a Difference website and, at 930am on Monday, a vote will go live enabling members of the public to vote for their favourite campaign over the course of three days.

The winner will be announced by David Dinsmore, News Media Association chairman, at the Society of Editors Regional Press Awards on Friday 18 May.

In the run up to LNW this week, David visited the Chichester Observer to meet local journalists and apprentices and discuss key local press industry issues with Gary Shipton, Sussex editorial director and Johnston Press deputy editor in chief.

On Thursday 17 May, as part of LNW, a #TrustedNewsDay where local papers across the UK will open up their newsrooms to readers through interactive initiatives such as live blogs and Q&As, to show how their trusted content is produced.

Supporters can also participate by backing the Local Newspaper Week Thunderclap will which will go live on #TrustedNewsDay and hail the importance of trusted local journalism.