Testimonials

“I have long believed that regional media, in all its forms, has a unique and vital role to play in society, perhaps even more so in these uncertain times… when too much focus is given to that which divides us, that role for your whole industry is more important than ever – and it starts from the ground-up, at local level, in your hands.  Your reporting, and the work of all those who support you, helps amplify and reaffirm the rights and responsibilities we all share. It shines a light in dark corners, exposing injustice and wrongdoing.

“Above all, it helps strengthen our communities, in times of joy and at moments of sorrow… I know how commercial pressures and changing technologies have had a significant impact on your industry. But as the media landscape has changed, so too many of you have adapted and innovated, finding ways of sharing your journalism and engaging audiences in new and creative ways.”

King Charles II

“Nobody knows your local areas and issues in the way that you do, and I don’t think there’s any other sort of media outlets, interrogators, interviewers who can put the questions in the way that you do because you understand what’s happening on your patch the way nobody else does, and in a sense, I think because you’re able to translate it into what matters where you are, it makes it more meaningful.”

Sir Keir Starmer MP, Prime Minister

“Great journalism shines a light into the darkest parts of our country, holds up a mirror to those in power, and reasserts the power of the people. I can think of no better recent example of this than last summer, as our towns and cities were set ablaze by violent thugs. It was local media on the ground who countered mis- and disinformation in real time. And they told the real story, the story of our communities, who came together to defend all of us in all of our diversity and led the community fightback.”

Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

“I believe the power of highly trusted local media to deliver results is one such opportunity which businesses cannot afford to miss out on. We, the advertising industry, have a critical role to play in driving the return to economic growth. The unique power of local news media to deliver results should be at the forefront of our thinking as we embark on this critically important mission.”

Craig Smith, WPP Media trading director

“One of the main things we’ve used for the Power of Local is the reopening of Glenrothes branch in Fife… most of the promotion for the opening was done through DC Thomson’s efforts, and the first couple of months we were open were very, very successful for us. They were the busiest company within the group of all the branches we have, from a sales perspective and from a service perspective, and we can only really put that down to DC Thomson. I think the Power of Local offers exceptional value… we can monitor what we’ve got, on the press side of things and with radio. We get stats and analysis of how the digital side is doing as well. All in all, it definitely works for us.”

Grant McClean, marketing manager, A.M. Phillip Trucktech