The teams plan to compile a dossier of people’s experiences, as well as collect statistics, to present to Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street. National World’s Group Publisher Martin Wright said: “Our reporters speak to the victims of crime every day, and many of those on the receiving end can feel desperate about the situation.

“This vital campaign will draw together testimonies across the country and will give a voice to those who feel as if we are seeing an epidemic of crime, both major and minor, which has a pronounced impact on their quality of life. We need the powers-that-be to listen and, crucially, to take meaningful action.”

National World reported that only one in 10 reported crimes in 2023 saw an offender brought to justice – and that only covers the crimes that were reported.

A trigger for the campaign was NationalWorld.com Editor-In-Chief Nancy Fielder’s elderly mother being mugged in a park at knifepoint during the day. She was unharmed but understandably extremely shaken up.

Nancy said: “When I tell people what happened to my family, the first reaction is always horror and the second is to tell me their own story. I now know that almost everyone has a horrific tale of crime to tell.”

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Cemented by a 47-minute Express & Star film called Grief, the newspaper teamed up with the family of Ronan Kanda, a 16-year-old attacked from behind in a case of mistaken identity. His attackers, who were just 17, bought a sword and a machete online with no checks.

The paper published a powerful front page – How Many More? – with a patchwork of the young faces lost to knife crime in recent years. The team said: “Every time a young murder happens, we run a roll-call of victims from recent years. It is as long as it is powerful.”

The campaign called on the then prime minister Rishi Sunak to bring forward new legislation to combat knife crime, which was sadly dropped at the call of the 2024 general election. The newspaper soon received a personal pledge from Sir Keir Starmer to tighten laws as a priority. He later wrote for the paper shortly after two 12-year-olds were jailed for the murder of a 19-year-old in Wolverhampton, again using machetes. New legislation was soon introduced in the King’s Speech.

The Express and Star said: “We have worked closely with the family of Ronan Kanda. His mother Pooja was among those who collaborated in the Grief documentary. We helped drive numbers for a 10,000-name petition taken to Downing Street. The proposed law to outlaw the sale of knives has become known as Ronan’s Law. Mark Brindley, father of James Brindley who was murdered in Walsall 2017, was also among those who bravely tell their unique and haunting stories of devastating loss in Grief.”

The documentary, Grief, aimed to illuminate the pervasive nature of the knife crime epidemic but also delved into the resilient spirit of those left behind, showcasing the indomitable strength that emerged in the face of tragedy. The paper continued: “The documentary is a campaign calling card on the devastating impact of knife crime and the desperate need to shut off the online trade that feeds it.

“It serves as a poignant call for awareness and change, challenging society to confront the harsh truths that echo in the shadows of our communities. By providing a platform for the voices of grieving parents, Grief humanises the statistics and compels viewers to re-evaluate the normalisation of knife crime.

“The message is ultimately “Enough is Enough!”

The campaign from the Express and Star to make Ronan’s Law a reality continues and the team continue to closely monitor its progress through Parliament.

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The Echo had campaigned ten years ago to bring the factory to the region and was now urging the government to keep it on track – or do everything in its power to find other orders to plug the gap. Real concerns had been growing since Hitachi bosses revealed that it had failed to reach an agreement with the government to keep their order books full. The factory keeps 750 people in work on-site, alongside another 1,400 jobs indirectly.

Last year, Rishi Sunak hailed Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe factory as a ‘fantastic example of world-class manufacturing’ in the North East. Twelve months on, the firm was on the brink and fighting for support to stop them from reaching the end of the line.

Bosses at Hitachi said they had been in talks for two years in an attempt to find a solution, but this had ”not resulted in a positive resolution”. The factory, which opened in 2015, was making its final trains for Avanti West Coast and East Midlands Railway. Ministers had told Hitachi they had no plans to order more trains to run on the West Coast mainline, which the firm saw as the only viable way to plug the production gap.

The campaign was backed by Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves during the 2024 general election campaign. As a result of The Northern Echo’s work, it became a key part of Labour’s election manifesto, with the party visiting the Newton Aycliffe factory on a number of occasions.

Senior former politicians including Tony Blair and George Osborne also backed the campaign. The new North East mayor Kim McGuinness also made saving Hitachi her number one priority in her first term in office following the Echo’s work. Politicians of all colours and business leaders across the North East backed the campaign.

Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor MP Alan Strickland said he is “determined to keep fighting to secure the future of the factory”.

“I am really proud that we’ve had the world-class Hitachi Rail plant in Aycliffe now for 9 years,” he said. 

“This is testament to the excellent campaign led by the Northern Echo and former Labour MP Phil Wilson at the time.”

Due to The Northern Echo’s work, numerous rescue meetings have now been facilitated, with talks ongoing in London between the government, bosses and officials to try and secure the factory’s future.

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The renovation work to turn the building into Bradford Live cost £50.5 million, most of which was taxpayers’ money from Bradford Council. It was previously stated that the venue would open in autumn 2024. However, Birmingham-based company the NEC Group – which had been unveiled as the operator of Bradford Live in 2017 – had failed to comment on its involvement with the scheme for several months despite repeated questions from the newspaper on behalf of the public.

As things stand, no opening date has been confirmed and no acts have been announced at what was promised to be a “world-class” concert venue. The future of Bradford Live remains very unclear – and this was an issue of major concern to the team and to many of their readers, raising concerns amongst local MPs.

Questions over the project started nearly half a year ago, when tickets for the first two shows announced for Bradford Live – an Abba tribute act and a Bob Marley tribute show – were removed from sale. The Telegraph and Argus later learned those shows had been cancelled.

They also learned that a major event due to be held at Bradford Live next year – during Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture – would also not go ahead. The team relentlessly began putting questions to Bradford Council, the developer Bradford Live and the NEC Group on behalf of the public. In April, they published an online story, which was also featured on the front page of their print edition with the headline ‘What’s Going On?’

In May, they asked Bradford Council to confirm how much of taxpayers’ money had gone towards the Bradford Live project and also asked for confirmation of the total cost of the project. These important questions should have been answered by the council at that time – but they were not, so the team resorted to using the Freedom of Information Act. This FOI process was protracted as the council said it needed more time to “reach a decision on where the balance of the public interest lies”. Towards the end of July, the council finally revealed to the newspaper – and, in turn, members of the public – that the overall cost of the Bradford Live scheme had climbed to £50.5m.

The Telegraph and Argus continued with their dogged journalism by publishing this open letter to Bradford Council, Bradford Live and the NEC Group, asking seven key questions on behalf of the public. The open letter was also featured on the front page of their print edition with the headline ‘Tell Us The Truth’. However, questions and concerns lingered as the NEC Group failed to respond to the open letter.

In August, the matter recently made national headlines when the open letter was highlighted by The Guardian and The Observer.

Many readers have welcomed the newspaper’s coverage and asked the team to continue investigating and highlighting this important topic.

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The need for a Nairn Bypass has been a long-standing issue, with discussions dating back to 2008, when the Scottish Government’s Strategic Transport Projects Review identified the necessity of upgrading the A96 and constructing a bypass, but the project has faced significant delays, with the completion date pushed to 2030, leaving the community increasingly frustrated.

After the Inverness Courier launched its Nairnshire edition it quickly became clear just how deep – and wide – those frustrations were: parents concerned about their children’s safety; businesses worried about the town becoming a less attractive destination; everyone concerned about the overall quality of life in the town. In response, the Inverness Courier, building on the momentum of its successful Dual the A9 campaign, launched the Build the Bypass campaign in November 2023 to provide a focus for urging the government to expedite this critical infrastructure project.

The campaign quickly gained traction, featuring in-depth interviews with residents, stakeholders and politicians. A pivotal moment came in May 2024, when the Courier organised a Build the Bypass public event in Nairn attended by Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop and leaders from Transport Scotland.

The event provided a platform for residents to share their experiences and emphasise the severe impact of the bypass delay on their daily lives. In a significant development, Ms Hyslop announced that the government would proceed with the next steps, including the process of land purchase between Inverness and Nairn, and provided a preliminary timeline for the project.

Since this event, the Inverness Courier has remained unwavering in its commitment to the campaign, continuing to report on accidents along the A96 and maintaining pressure on the government for updates and progress. The Courier is resolved to see the project through to completion, ensuring that the long-awaited bypass finally becomes a reality, enhancing safety, reducing congestion, and supporting the growth of the community of Nairn.

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The Chronicle launched an online petition, garnering over 700 signatures, and also engaged with media minister Stephanie Peacock MP to support the campaign. Stephanie Peacock MP raised the issue in Parliament and also wrote to major fuel suppliers and supermarkets, urging for reforms.

Since the campaign was launched last year, the cost of petrol in Barnsley in August 2024 dropped by around 11 pence per litre. Prices are now more comparable to those in other areas.

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Since October 2023, the Cambrian News searched for cancer patients who had been affected by delays and sought to tell their stories, putting names and faces to the thousands of people in the nation who were struggling with cancer.

The team reported on the worries and psychological and physical impacts of not beginning treatment within the government-mandated target period. They also spoke with public representatives about the failures of this system, which was underfunded and over-stretched and queried whether money alone was the issue.

As a result, the News reviewed the data that said that cancer improvement rates in Wales had not improved since the turn of the century, and reported on the sad reality that poor treatment options meant that cancer patients could lose five years of life expectancy as a result. 

As well as reporting on the numbers, the News reported on the people waiting for treatment, with the Cambrian News’ hard-hitting editorials in their opinion column querying why the government had set targets that it could not meet, why the system remained broken and what was needed to improve.

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The campaign calls for the review of regulations around harmful knife-related content on social media and to review how knife crime is linked to poverty, social exclusion and the collapse in youth services. BristolLive launched a petition calling for people to back their campaign and take a stand against knife crime.

BristolLive noted that they had reported on an incident involving a knife on average more than once a week, with many of these incidents ending seriously.

The four news brands penned an open letter to the city setting out their plans. They proposed to:

• Set up a task force – We will develop a community-driven task force to meet and discuss the issue, how best to tackle it and how we can make a real difference with those in power
• Getting knives off the street – We will work with the campaigners to raise awareness of initiatives designed to get knives off the streets
• Social media – We will look at the Online Safety Bill and see if it goes far enough where it comes to harmful knife-related content on social media and how easy it is for children to see
• Raise awareness – We will work together to raise the awareness of how knife crime is linked to poverty, education, employment, social exclusion and the collapse in youth services
• Lobby the government -We will cover the issue in the context of the General Election, using our findings from the taskforce and our reporting to lobby for change
• Hold power to account – We will scrutinise and hold Avon and Somerset Police and Bristol City Council to account on their plans and models to make Bristol safer

BristolLive editor Pete Gavan said: “I knew it was something we had to campaign on, but that it would take time to get it right.

“While I was planning it I thought it would be great if we – the Bristol media – along with those across the city who know the issue best – could join forces and present a united front.

“After contacting the other publishers they quickly came on board. It’s been great working closely together on setting out the objectives of the campaign and getting the initial buy-in from community leaders. It’s a complex issue and collaborating really helped us drill down on what mattered which was working with the community, rather than just talking ‘at’ them.

“We’ll continue to work together as the campaign develops. This is not a quick fix and we’re all here for the long haul.”

Supporters of the campaign include Leanne Reynolds, a knife crime campaigner, Reverend Dr Dawnecia Palmer, Abdul Malik, Chairperson/Trustee, Easton Jamia Masjid, Mohamed Makawi, Green Party Councillor for Cotham, Patrick Hart, CEO of BCfm and E-Com Media, Desmond Brown, Director, Growing Futures Martin Bisp, Empire Fighting Chance, Nicky Edmondson, Chief Executive Officer for Excalibur Academies Trust, Bristol Rovers Community Trust, Neil Blundell, CEO, Cathedral Schools Trust, and Neil Maggs, a Bristol journalist and former community worker.

Bristol World reporter Charlie Watts said: “Many in Bristol have been speaking out against knife crime for ages and now is the time they were finally listened to by the powers that be. Whether that’s reopening youth clubs, installing knife amnesty bins or promoting life-saving bleed kits, we need to be taking proactive steps to tackle this epidemic plaguing our city.

“We cannot afford to lose any more young lives. We need to be supporting those initiatives that are making our streets a safer place to live and creating a better future for our youth. It is only by working together we can achieve that change.”

Ellie Pipe, deputy editor of Bristol24/7, said: “Against a backdrop of cuts to public services and youth provision, knife crime is devastating families and communities. We hope that by coming together, highlighting this vital work, collaborating with campaigners and stakeholders and putting pressure on those in power, we can start to make a difference.

“We certainly don’t have all the answers. This campaign is as much about listening, collaborating and providing a platform as it is taking action, but our collective message is clear, we want to understand the root causes of knife crime and tackle this issue and its heartbreaking impact.”

Sean Morrison, reporter at the Bristol Cable, said: “Knife violence among young people is a national issue that’s as complex as it is devastating, and it doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s set in a wider social context where insecure housing, exclusion from education, unemployment, addiction, mental health issues, and the impact of government cuts are factors at the heart of the problem.

“We want to better understand the social issues that underpin the knife epidemic in the city and amplify the voices of those most deeply affected, working with communities, authorities and charities to build on a local effort to make a real difference.”

The post Together For Change appeared first on News Media Association.

The campaign launched to generate funds for the Mindfulness in Schools Project, to enhance mental health and well-being support for students nationwide, beginning in Warrington.

Tom Bedworth, reporter at the Guardian, told HoldtheFrontPage: “From the moment a member of the public tipped me off about Brianna’s death, I knew that I had a responsibility as a local reporter to cover her death sensitively.

“As a result of this, I have been able to build a respectful working relationship with Brianna’s mother, Esther, ever since we first met.

“When I suggested launching a campaign in Brianna’s memory, Esther leapt at the chance, and we haven’t looked back.”

In the summer of 2023, Esther completed the Great North Swim. She raised more than £20,000 for the Mindfulness in Schools Project. The Warrington Guardian’s campaign aimed to raise £50,000 in total, with the funds contributing to the project’s training of school staff in mindfulness practices. The Warrington Guardian has since surpassed its goal, having now raised £90,000. The campaign has helped to train 100 teachers.

The campaign has received backing from Warrington Borough Council, the Warrington Wolves, Charlotte Nichols MP and then MP Andy Carter.

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According to research conducted by the Bevan Foundation, in 2021/2, 30.3% of children in Blaenau Gwent were living in poverty, which was the highest rate found in Wales. Newport also had the highest number of rough sleepers in Wales. The Argus felt that these facts indicated the level of vulnerability of the people in these regions.

The Argus collaborated with Community Foundation Wales and involved all of Newsquest’s Welsh newspapers, including the Western Telegraph in Pembrokeshire and The Leader in Wrexham. In February, they launched “Our Communities Together” – an appeal to address the cost-of-living crisis. They asked their readers, local businesses, and organisations to donate funds that would be used to support community-based projects aimed at improving the cost-of-living.

The launch of the campaign was widely publicised across their two daily newspapers, namely the Argus and The Leader. It was also covered in their weekly newspapers, such as the Barry & District News and Tivyside Advertiser, among others. In order to maximise the impact of each donation, they offered to match donations up to £25,000 from individuals, matching every £1 contributed with an additional £1.

Several backers, including The Steve Morgan Foundation, The Waterloo Foundation, and the Moondance Foundation, contributed towards enabling business donations of up to £25,000 to be matched. However, the major breakthrough came when the Welsh Government committed £1 million to the fund. A few weeks later, NatWest pledged £100,000 towards the same cause. As a result, the team behind the campaign successfully distributed over £1 million in grants to 80 different groups across Wales. The grants, which amounted to a maximum of £15,000 per group, were provided over a period of three years to help people during the winter season.

In October, the Argus reopened the appeal for donations to extend support to more people in need next year. The money received was distributed among various groups that provided essential assistance, such as food banks, heating vouchers, financial advice, and lunch clubs, among others. The Argus specifically aimed to assist community groups, being better equipped to reach individuals who required urgent aid. Their outreach and community networks allowed them to identify more such groups that required funding, and the Community Foundation was able to engage with them for the first time.

The Argus still hope for a sustainable funding solution, rather than just a temporary fix. Therefore, they decided to provide support for group activities and services, instead of giving short-term grants to individuals. Their collaboration with the Community Foundation enabled them to build relationships with larger donors, and to accept donations and distribute grants with expertise. Overall, the campaign was a compelling indicator of the power of local media, which the Argus was able to harness to serve and benefit their communities.

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