Leading local newspaper stops print

Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller has remembered the Liverpool Leader, which will cease its print version and publish exclusively online, as one of Liverpool’s much-loved local newspapers.

“The Leader has been part of the fabric of Liverpool life for more than 70 years,” Mayor Waller said.

“I remember it from a very early age as being the paper that people went to as a trusted source of information.

“But it is more than that. The Leader is about community, connection, news and entertainment.”

Mayor Waller said the Leader did not always run stories that Council agreed with, but that this was an important part of living in a democracy.

“Local newspapers, like Council, have strong connections to community,” Mayor Waller said. “It’s a sad day when a community loses a local paper.”

Newscorp, owner of the Liverpool Leader and more than 100 suburban and regional newspapers confirmed a number of newspaper closures due to COVID-19 and falling advertising revenues.

A former Liverpool Leader staff member said: “COVID-19 has hastened the move by readers to digital platforms to keep up to date on what's happening in Liverpool."

“Readers do not have to wait for a weekly edition now as breaking news will be updated daily and as soon as possible online”.

“In the end, our aim is to inspire and connect local residents to the community and that’s what matters most”.