BelfastLive has been named ‘Best Local/Regional News Site’ at The Drum Online Media Awards.

The Reach-owned website was the only Northern Ireland-based news brand shortlisted in this year’s awards which rewards original, clever and thought-provoking work across the best platforms.

The commercial team at Reach NI was also highly commended in the Commercial Campaign of the Year category for their work with Electric Ireland on the ‘Power of Pause’ campaign which was nominated alongside work by Channel 4, LADbible Group and Evening Standard.

Editor of BelfastLive, Ryan Smith, said: “This is a very proud moment for us and it’s brilliant…

At BehindLocalNews we’re shining a spotlight on the great work going on by local reporters up and down the country ahead of the May 6 elections.

With less than 24-hours to go until polling stations open it’s going to be a different type of election — with much of the counting taking place during Friday day-time and Covid-secure measures in place at polling stations and counts.

On BehindLocalNews we’re going to be rounding up some of the great work being done by local journalists across print, digital, TV, radio, social media, hyperlocals and wherever else you find your local coverage…

One of the country’s largest free weekly newspapers has hit the streets again — and embarked on expansion too.

In a post on linkedin, the Wolverhampton Express and Star told readers: “It’s great to be back printing the region’s largest free weekly newspaper Chronicle Week.”

Publication was suspended last November when a second National lockdown was announced by the government — with a pledge to back as soon as possible.

Now the title, which has editions across the Black Country and Staffordshire, has also launched an edition for Sutton Coldfield. …

Cardiff’s South Wales Echo has been named Daily/Sunday Newspaper of the Year at the much-delayed Wales Media Awards, held online last week.

The awards should have been held last spring, but fell foul of the first lockdown brought about by the pandemic.

Singing the praises of the Echo, judges said: “Solid news coverage, with some striking front pages backed-up by comprehensive reporting on major stories.

“The staples of local news are covered well and are complemented by very readable news features on topics like the city’s oldest record shop, or the history of Cardiff’s prefab homes. …

Newsquest, the UK’s leading local media group, announced today a major new £1.5m per annum investment in local journalism with the recruitment of 50 new digital journalist roles across the UK.

Of the 50 new roles, 32 will be local digital journalists assigned to specific brands at newsrooms in Glasgow, North Wales, Essex, Hampshire, Dorset, Bolton, Lancashire, Darlington, Durham, Yorkshire, Hereford, Wales, Somerset, South London, Sussex, Worcester, Oxford, Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Cumbria.

Three more roles will be for local Digital Sport Journalists in Bolton, Glasgow and Southampton.

The company is also launching a Regional SEO Content team consisting of…

Newsquest, the UK’s leading local media group, announced today a major new £1.5m per annum investment in local journalism with the recruitment of 50 new digital journalist roles across the UK.

Of the 50 new roles, 32 will be local digital journalists assigned to specific brands at newsrooms in Glasgow, North Wales, Essex, Hampshire, Dorset, Bolton, Lancashire, Darlington, Durham, Yorkshire, Hereford, Wales, Somerset, South London, Sussex, Worcester, Oxford, Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Cumbria.

Three more roles will be for local Digital Sport Journalists in Bolton, Glasgow and Southampton.

The company is also launching a Regional SEO Content team consisting of…

Local Newsrooms across the UK have joined a boycott of social media being organised by sporting bodies to protest about online hate.

At 3pm today, the boycott began, spearheaded by leading figures in the world of football, and it will continue until Monday night.

The boycott, which is being described as a “show of solidarity against online abuse” hopes to encourage companies to take a stronger stance against racist and sexist abuse on their platforms.”

This morning, The Eastern Daily Press announced it was joining the boycott.

David Powles, editor of the EDP and Norwich Evening News, said the wider…

Newsquest’s flagship daily The Northern Echo has made another two key appointments as Group Editor Karl Holbrook prepares for one of the most significant periods of growth in the title’s 151-year history.

From June 21, Mike Hughes will become the Echo’s first Business & Commercial Editor, as the arrival in Darlington of teams from the Treasury and the Department for International Trade heralds a new era of growth and investment in the North-East.