Preserving the local newspaper

This research project, funded by a resilience grant from The National Archive, is designed to contribute to innovative understandings of the value of local media to people and places. The project originally began at Coventry University and was subsequently completed at Birmingham City University in 2026. The project lead for the University was Dr Dave Harte but all the hard work was done by Dr Rachel Matthews along with Gary Collins, working as consultants on behalf of Birmingham City University,

Project Summary

Focussing on the legacy local newspaper industry, the Preserving the Local Newspaper project poses challenging questions about how their contemporary presence and historic vestiges as a product and process contribute to vibrant communities.

The daily and weekly local newspaper has been a ubiquitous material presence around the globe since its inception in the 18th century and many of the normative assumptions relating to the form and function of local media arise from its practice. However, in the 21st century that presence is shrinking as digital operations take up less space than analogue print products and the associated armies of commercial and production staff are nolonger needed. This shrinkage – which is particularly acute in the US and the UK – is exacerbated by declining revenues associated with the challenge of online competitors. This means large landmark offices are earmarked for closure by those seeking a sustainable economic future for legacy brands.

One casualty in this process is the archives associated with these titles, which have documented hundreds of years of happenings in a location. Often these are the only records of such events. But, because these records are undervalued, as offices close these collections are rarely kept intact. In some instances they may be donated to those official archives with the capacity to accept what are sizeable physical collections. Owners may keep selected items which they deem to have commercial value. Otherwise, their salvage falls to community groups who perceive their inherent value, but who may lack the specialist skills associated with archiving and preservation.

Participants at a project workshop at Birmingham City University in June 2026

Project network and toolkit

In response to these issues the project has developed a toolkit and network to support people working this area. The project has brought together a range of participants to co-create the toolkit, including heritage professionals from the archive, library and preservation sectors, industry representatives and community groups. Initially designed as a pilot project in the Midlands, participants include: Warwickshire Library and Information Service, the Stamford Mercury Archive Trust, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the University of Leicester and the Worcester Civic Society.

In addition to developing hands-on guidance for those working in this area, the group has also considered the value of these collections and how the articulation of that value can help advocate for their future conservation. The findings contribute to new theoretical perspectives on the relationship between local media practices and communities; these include the local media as community activator and the conception that local media can be considered part of the fabric of places. These expanded understandings have consequences for policy reactions to the contemporary decline of local media.

Our toolkit will be launched on 28th September 2025 and you will be to download it from this page.