Celebs give backing for Local Newspaper Week

The high-profile figures backing the campaign range from Oscar winner Dame Helen Mirren and former Olympic champion Jonathan Edwards to Bank of England Governor Mark Carney and TV presenter Richard Madeley.

The week is to highlight the role local papers play and has the theme Making a Difference to showcase the changes we make to people's lives and our communities.

See also: Express & Star's Green Shoots in line for campaign award

How we're making a difference every day, by Express & Star editor Keith Harrison

Messages of support include public figures celebrating the role we play in holding our politicians to account, exposing wrongdoing, campaigning for changes our communities care about most, and supporting our best sportsmen and women – what famous faces dubbed a 'force for good'.

Actress Dame Helen said: "Through their reporting on local events and performances, local and regional newspapers play an important part in promoting and sustaining the arts at a local level.

"Theatres up and down Britain rely on this exposure and support from their local papers to communicate effectively with both new and existing audiences.

"Local newspapers campaign on behalf of their readers, expose wrongdoing and corruption, and uphold free speech.

"These are just some of the reasons why I am supporting this year's Local Newspaper Week."

Former British triple jumper Edwards added: "Local newspapers are vital to the communities they serve because of the work they do to highlight important causes and issues.

"By giving people who might not otherwise be heard a powerful voice, local papers can bring about real, positive change for individuals and organisations who badly need help but have nowhere else to turn.

"In the age of social media in which anyone can be a publisher, local newspapers' role as a source of trusted and accurate information has become even more vital.

"The rapid growth of digital has also meant that local newspaper campaigning can achieve instant results.

"Local newspapers were very important during my career as an athlete.

"Not only do local papers raise the profile of grassroots sports but they also very play an important role in reporting the endeavours of athletes competing at the very highest level.

"Only the local paper can fully reflect the pride and passion of a community when one of their own achieves something remarkable on the world stage."

TV presenter Madeley, who began his career as a cub reporter on The Brentwood Argus, spoke about how the competition between the newspaper where he cut his teeth and its local rival The Brentwood Gazette meant readers enjoyed a range of coverage.

He added: "But such not-so-friendly rivalry was hugely healthy and important for the town. It drove both newspapers to beat each other to the story, the exclusive, the news-behind-the-news agenda. That gave readers choice, and a genuinely broad local news coverage.

"Of course, local radio has moved in on local newspapers' patches, but the print guys have fought back, organising popular campaigns, fund-raising for local charities, and still hungry for the all-important exclusive that can cause local newspapers to sell out in a morning and have those radio reporters running to catch up.

"Readers who keep the faith with their local paper help keep the heart of their communities beating strongly.

"Support your local sheriff? Sure. But support your local paper, too. Because you'll miss it when it's gone."

Bank of England Governor Carney said: "Regional media are a vital channel through which we communicate with businesses and households throughout the country about our policies and decisions. Indeed, my first UK newspaper interview as Governor was with the Nottingham Post last August.

"Since that time, members of the Bank's Monetary Policy and Financial Policy Committees have engaged in over 20 regional media interviews, from Northern Ireland, to South-west England.

"Our commitment to regional newspapers reflects the important role they play in helping us to achieve our mission: promoting the good of the people of the United Kingdom."

Sochi Gold Medalist Lizzy Yarnold meanwhile added:"Local media plays an incredibly important role in making a difference to the lives of individuals in local communities across the UK in a way that no other media can – whether it is raising funds for a life-saving operation, campaigning to stop a sports centre from closing, raising awareness of a local charity or cleaning up a local park.

"Local newspapers act as a force for good in their communities, and can make a real difference to people's lives.

"Many local papers follow the careers of athletes in their local communities, helping to promote and publicise their development, sometimes all the way to a place in Team GB."

This year's Local Newspaper Week runs from today until Sunday.

Readers are being urged to support the week by following @localpaperweek on Twitter and using hastags #LNW and #MakingaDifference in Tweets.