The King last night threw his support behind regional media including The Northern Echo, saying, “without a thriving and financially robust regional media, we would all be the poorer.”
He made the remarks as he welcomed hundreds of local reporters to Buckingham Palace on Wednesday (March 26) evening to show support for local news.
The Monarch said: “I have long believed that regional media, in all its forms, has a unique and vital role to play in society, perhaps even more so in these uncertain times.
“As I said in a speech to mark the tercentenary of Britain’s first daily national newspaper, back in 2022, the Press, alongside other long-standing institutions, is at the forefront of ‘defining, describing and celebrating the more profound values of our nation’.
“Two decades on, when too much focus is given to that which divides us, that role for your whole industry is more important than ever – and it starts from the ground-up, at local level, in your hands.
“Your reporting, and the work of all those who support you, helps amplify and reaffirm the rights and responsibilities we all share. It shines a light in dark corners, exposing injustice and wrongdoing. Above all, it helps strengthen our communities, in times of joy and at moments of sorrow.”
He praised the efforts of the regional press in adapting to a “changing media landscape”, adding: “You won’t always get it right. A free media is one that will and does make mistakes. But at its best, it is a cornerstone of our democracy.”
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The King, Queen and Duke and Duchess of Gloucestershire spoke to some of the 400 guests in the Palace’s grand ballroom, installed by Queen Victoria and normally used to host foreign leaders for state banquets. US President Donald Trump could soon dine there with the King after he was an extended an invite for an historic second state visit last month.
Echo reporter Daniel Hordon who attended the event said: “It was an honour to be hosted at the Palace by the King and Queen this evening alongside colleagues from across the UK.
“Just as the King pledges to serve his people, at The Northern Echo we always vow to stand up for our readers and region.”
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