The Lead North shortlisted in national journalism awards
Our newsletters, read by thousands of subscribers in towns and regions beyond the bright lights in the North of England, receive recognition
We’re delighted to tell you the in-depth local journalism we publish twice-a-week across the North of England is up for an award.
Press Gazette’s Future of Media Awards has seen The Lead North project shortlisted in the Best Journalism-Based Newsletters of 2025 (Specialist/Regional) category.
Launched in early 2024 the Lead North aims to go beyond the metropolises of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and dig underneath the surface of what’s happening.
We have dedicated newsletters and reporters in Blackpool, Lancashire, Southport, Teesside and Calderdale publishing directly to thousands of subscribers each week, with a growing number of paid supporters who recognise the need for rigorous local journalism in this age of false narratives and ailing accountability for those in public office.
Senior Editor for The Lead North, Luke Beardsworth, said: "Being nominated in the Future of Media Awards is recognition of the fantastic work done by our journalists in Lancashire, Blackpool, Southport, Teesside and Calderdale.
"We firmly believe that there is an audience and a market for long-form, careful and considered reporting across the North and that's what we're starting to prove .There are dozens of stories that wouldn't have been reported on without their hard work.
"We're always learning, developing what we do and making sure that The Lead North titles are asking the very toughest questions of those elected to represent us."
The Lead North last year also published more than 200,000 free local newspapers across the North of England in the run up to the general election, fusing together our local and national coverage and going through doors in 11 key towns.
We also regularly amplify our Lead North stories - such as the revelations around the Reform branded Talbot pub in Blackpool - in our national newsletter and we also regularly feature stories from Northern correspondents such as Kevin Gopal’s recent-look at the state of funding for universities with a distinctly Northern flavour to it or how the welfare rebellion had a very Northern heart.
The awards will be announced in September and the best of luck to our fellow shortlisted newsletters Uncovered with Sam McBride by the Belfast Telegraph,
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