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This week’s highlights from our 120+ brands includes powerful reporting from our US teams on the Californian wildfires, the Daily Record looks inside the UK’s first legally-sanctioned drug consumption room, and our regional titles deliver a strong week of new campaigns, exclusives and public interest journalism. Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly updates. #journalism #localnews #localjournalism #regionaljournalism

The mystery of ‘canoe man’ John Darwin captivated the nation back in 2007. Having apparently died in a canoeing accident, he walked into a central London police station five years later claiming amnesia. But did you know the Mirror played a central role in unravelling the lies? Last week, a documentary film crew visited the Mirror’s offices to interview Jeremy Armstrong, News Reporter at the Mirror, about the story. Jeremy and Mirror colleagues played a vital role in solving the mystery by highlighting how Darwin's cover story didn’t add up, and publishing a photo of John with his wife Anne the year before in Panama. In 2008, the Darwins were both sentenced to more than six years in prison for faking his death to claim life insurance. Jeremy said: “The reason this story seems to strike a chord with the public is because it is one of pure greed, mystery and hubris. It is so outlandish as to be unbelievable and I think that’s why there is still so much fascination around ‘canoe man’. How on earth did they think they would get away with it?” Look out for the documentary on BBC Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer in late March. #mirror #journalism #investigativejournalism #crimereporting

We’re really proud of our podcasts, from the award-winning The Northern Agenda to political show the Division Bell, but growing a podcast takes time and expertise. In this week’s the journalism.co.uk podcast, our Podcast Editor Daniel J. McLaughlin went behind the mic with host Jacob Granger to share how we build the right audience for our podcasts and use the medium to tell stories with depth and character. Check out the episode here:  https://lnkd.in/ep9r8PNh #journalism   #podcasts   #digitaljournalism   #multimedia

Big stories for everyone, everywhere. We speak up for people across the UK, give communities a voice, and drive change. Check out our new video - produced by Reach Studio - to find out more about our 120+ trusted brands and how they enlighten, empower and entertain through brilliant journalism. #journalism   #localjournalism  #media  #mediabrands

This week's Celebrating Great Journalism explores how we've been keeping readers up-to-date on the snow and storms affecting many parts of the UK, ChronicleLive delivers an exclusive with Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies, the Western Morning News celebrates 165 years of great journalism, and much more. Subscribe to Celebrating Great Journalism for our weekly highlights. #journalism #localjournalism #localnews

Well done to the team at the Bristol Post for coming third out of twelve finalists in Best Front Page of 2024, voted for by readers of Hold the Front Page. The Post’s compelling headline on Monday 5th August 2024 came after people in Bristol turned out to stand against rioting in their city amid a month of violent unrest across the UK. It said: “This weekend the city centre witnessed shameful scenes of bloody violence. While those ‘protesting’ claimed they ‘want their country back’ the Post says anyone using the deaths of three innocent children to spread hate has no place on our streets.” Five of our other titles also made the top twelve front pages of 2024:  Liverpool Echo, Manchester Evening News, Nottingham Post, Southport Visiter, and Western Mail. Read the story here: https://lnkd.in/d68-5xuc

Here's part two of our bumper review of 2024 - sharing the very best of journalism at Reach. From across our local, regional, national and international publications. David Higgerson, Chief Digital Publisher at Reach, looks at how Labour's historic landslide, the summer riots in England and Trump's election victory were covered. As well as the tragic Southport terror attack, Liam Payne's death in Argentina, ten Hag's departure, the 'last ever' derby match at Goodison, weather chaos and much more. Read July to end of December '24 highlights 👇

We're proud that our regional newsbrands have made a real difference supporting communities in need over the festive season. So, here's a short summary. Starting with the phenomenon that is the annual Brumwish campaign, now in its fifth year ... 🎁 BirminghamLive – Brumwish. 14,000 donations of gifts for children. Passed onto 104 organisations to distribute to struggling families. Graeme Brown, editor of BirminghamLive , said in a message to readers: “Despite the tough times in the city I'm so grateful to the generosity of our readers who have supported Brumwish and made it a record breaking year once again. You have helped so many children who faced waking up on Christmas Day to nothing. It really does make a difference. Thank you all so much.” Elsewhere across our newsbrands: 🚚 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 WalesOnline – Canolfan Pentre. 1,349 Amazon wishlist purchases of toys, food and toiletries distributed to 15 primary schools, 2 comprehensive schools and 1 nursery. 🎅 BristolLive & BusinessLive – Community of Purpose. Over £34,000 raised - against an initial £25k target! - providing Christmas meals for over 1,000 children. 🍲 Manchester Evening News – Humans MCR. £28,597 raised to provide Christmas dinner for people in poverty. 🧺 CambridgeshireLive & Cambridge City Foodbank – Christmas Hamper Appeal. More than 1,000 collections of food and hygiene essentials. Cambridge City Foodbank Manchester Evening News Bristol Live Humans MCR Community of Purpose CIC A huge quantity of donations made and money raised thanks to our regional newsbrands and the generosity of readers.

A number of regional titles wanted to say a big 'thank you' to their readers and the communities they serve with a special end of year campaign. As well as print, digital and social ads that we shared last week, there are now out-of-home street furniture placements and posters in Birmingham, at Liverpool One, and the Trafford Centre / Arndale in Manchester. Paul Rowland, editorial director for Reach’s Live Network, said: “We’ve seen some excellent examples this year of our brands working hand-in-hand with the communities they represent to achieve meaningful change on some of the issues that mean the most to them. “We know just how important public-interest journalism can be, especially when it’s grounded in the local community. So we wanted to say a big thank you to our readers and the communities our publications serve with this special campaign."

Our 'thank you' ad campaign across print, digital, social media, newsletters and, from today, out-of-home locations including Birmingham’s Bull Ring shopping centre, Liverpool One and the Trafford Centre and Arndale in Manchester is live. Paul Rowland, editorial director for Reach’s Live Network, said: “We know just how important public-interest journalism can be, especially when it’s grounded in the local community. So we wanted to say a big thank you to our readers and the communities our publications serve with this special campaign.” Find out more about how Reach titles have worked hand-in-hand with the communities they represent this year, achieving real change on some important issues 👇 https://lnkd.in/epEW82z8 Manchester Evening News Liverpool Echo MyLondon Bristol Live