A message from HRH the Prince of Wales
I could not be more pleased to be launching the annual Prince's Trust Local Reporting Awards. This is the fourth year in which we have organised these awards, with the aim of encouraging young reporters to write about young people in their communities who have either overcome difficult circumstances or helped others to do so. In other words, these awards are aimed at what regional newspapers do best, celebrating local examples of courage, selflessness and community partnership involving young people.
At a time when the younger generation seems to be on the receiving end of a certain amount of criticism in the press and elsewhere. I think it is right that we find ways to highlight the very positive contribution which many young people make to the life of this country.
With a bit of assistance from my Prince's Trust, I have seen endless examples of young people who have shown enormous fortitude overcoming hurdles that would defeat people twice their age, or who have given freely of their time to improve the lives of those worse off than themselves. Often, to my delight, their achievements and successes are publicised by regional newspapers, where I hope their stories inspire others.
These awards are a yearly tribute, both to the young people who battle against adversity to achieve so much and to the local newspapers who take notice of them. When I met last year's winners, I was enormously impressed by the quality of the journalists and by the projects about which they wrote, each of which was remarkable and of vital importance to local communities.
Giving young people opportunities which they would not otherwise have is what my Prince's Trust tries to do. Through our many programmes aimed at 14-30 year olds, we aim to instill confidence and teach new skills so that young people from any background can fulfil their potential. It does not matter if they are unemployed or employed, leaving the care system or wanting to move away from an environment of crime, or have a desire to make music or a good business idea that no-one else will back - The Trust is there to make a difference.
Since it was founded in 1976, The Prince's Trust has helped some half a million young people on their way to a brighter future. I am enormously proud of each and everyone of them and it gives me particular pleasure that their successes have often been recognised by local papers across the country, providing much-needed encouragement and fostering a sense of community.
I do hope that many young journalists will enter this year's competition and I can only wish them all the very best of good fortune.
A message from Observer
proprietor, Sir Ray Tindle CBE.
Local Newspaper Week is, of course, a highly regarded event in this industry of ours.
Newspapers including this one have been publishing local news for very many years without a break and we regard this week as a moment to take pride and reflect. We ask ourselves today if we are doing everything we can to service you, our valued customers, as you would wish.
Thank you, our readers and advertisers, for all your kindness and support over this long period of time. Please tell us if you think we can improve or add to the local information we provide.
20 things you should know about local newspapers
1. There are 1,300 regional and local newspapers in the UK today (source: the Newspaper Society).
2. 84 per cent of British adults read a regional newspaper, making it the most widely-read medium in the country (BMRB/TGI 2002).
3. Almost 40 per cent of adults who read a regional newspaper do not read a national daily (BMRB/TGI 2002).
4. The most popular newspaper topic is local news - 40 per cent of adults say this is a category they find "very interesting" (BMRB/TGI 2002).
5. On average, people spend 32 minutes reading a paid-for regional newspaper (JICREG Dec 2002).
6. Some 4,067 local newspapers are sold in the UK every minute (source: ABC/Independent audits).
7. More than 41 million regional newspapers are sold, and 29 million distributed free, every week. (Source:ABC/VFD/Independent audits).
8. UK people spend more than £670million each year on buying local papers (source: Advertising Statistics yearbook 2002).
9. There are over 600 regional newspaper websites (source: Newspaper Society).
10. There are around 100 regional press publishers in the UK, half of whom own just one local paper (source: Newspaper Society).
11. One in five adults wouldn't be without their local newspaper (source: Consumer's Choice IV 2000).
12. Regional press is considered by the UK population to be the most trustworthy of all media (24 per cent), followed by BBC TV (18 per cent) (source: Consumer's Choice IV 2000).
13. Regional press is considered to be the most enjoyable medium - 43 per cent of UK adults rated it the most enjoyable, compared to 35 per cent for national press and 34 per cent for BBC TV source: Consumer's Choice IV 2000).
14. 68 per cent of Britains influential business community reads a local newspaper (Business Choice, 2000).
15. Nine out of 10 advertising campaigns in the regional and local press work (Conversion Study, conducted by Millward Brown).
16. Colour ads are almost three times as effective as black and white ads (Conversion Study, conducted by Millward Brown).
17. The regional press is the UK's second biggest advertising medium accounting for nearly £3b in ad revenue (source: Advertising Statistics Yearbook 2002).
18. Regional newspapers account for almost half of the UK's classified advertising (47 per cent) (source: Advertising Statistics Yearbook 2002).
19. Around two-thirds of all copies of national newspapers are printed on regional newspaper presses (Production Journal).
20. Anyone can set up a local newspaper - you don't need a licence.
A message from the Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair
We live in an age of international travel, business and communications which, even a generation ago, would have been virtually impossible to imagine. And yet despite our much broader horizons, our attachment to our local town and neighbourhood remains extraordinarily strong.
I'm told that over half of us still live within a 30-minute journey of our birthplace. And surveys suggest that every important element of a person's life - where they work, shop, study and enjoy themselves -remain largely within a few miles of home.
I believe, too, that the importance of community has got stronger not weaker in recent years. There is a renewed pride in local achievements and successes and a stronger need to be involved in the life of your neighbourhood.
I think this helps explain the renaissance of local newspapers in this country. The best of our local papers - and there are many, many examples covering from our biggest cities to our most rural areas - play a vital role in reflecting and building the unique character and values of the community they serve.
This growing sense of community drives a growing thirst for local news and information and strengthens the role of Britian's 1,300 regional and local newspapers. Our regional press, of course, remains the backbone of this country's media with 40 million people reading their local paper every week.
All politicians recognise the importance of local newspapers to them and their communities. They know local papers are more trusted than any other media because you are much closer to your readers who hold you to account for what you publish.
Campaigning and effective local papers also help us do our jobs better, ensuring we don't lose sight of the issues that matter. They help, too, to hold us to account for what we do and what we don't.
It's part of the reason why healthy local papers are so important, both to a healthy democracy and vibrant communities. And it's why I'm delighted again to give my support and congratulations to all local papers and their readers during Local Newspaper Week.