Prince Charles and Tony Blair today praised the vital role of local newspapers.At the start of Local Newspaper Week, the Prince of Wales said he was a great admirer of the industry.
"They play an important role in the life of local communities by talking about issues which really matter to people."
And the Prime Minister said: "Local newspapers play a vital role in this country."
This is the second Local Newspaper Week, organised by the Newspaper Society to celebrate the role of newspapers in their community.
It comes at a time when the mood of the industry is buoyant. This is reflected at the Evening Press, which has seen a steady increase in circulation figures.
To mark Local Newspaper Week, we will be publishing an eight-page supplement tomorrow, free with copies of the Evening Press.
It will be packed with news about who we are, what we do and why we are important to you, the reader, and the community at large.
And there will be more features during the rest of Local Newspaper Week, culminating in a prize competition for schools.
Click here for our Local Newspaper Week competition for international readers
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