Welcome to the Lancashire Lead newsletter
Your weekly one-stop shop for everything you need to know from across the county
It can feel harder than ever to engage with local news, with algorithm changes, changing reader habits and lost advertising revenue contributing to the problems facing publishers. But the importance of such reporting is just as high as ever - if not even more so in an age of social media and misinformation.
With the Lancashire Lead, I’m hoping to shine a light on the excellent work being good by the county’s journalists and, importantly, help keep you involved in the latest news - just because something’s disappeared from your timeline, it doesn’t mean it’s disappeared altogether.
I’ve been reporting on Lancashire for almost a decade - first at local newspapers and then at LancsLive both in general news and as the UK’s first dedicated regional cost-of-living reporter. You can check out my X account here and see some of my work for the other Lead titles here.
Lancashire is a patch I’m hugely passionate about. It’s a diverse, varied and proud area with a rich history and so much to shout about. At the same time, it faces an unclear future with all too many areas of deprivation and plenty of regeneration needed.
I also know it’s of the upmost importance to keep communities engaged and aware of what is happening around them. Each week, The Lancashire Lead will send you a round-up of the county’s biggest headlines along with plenty of interesting stories you may have missed.
You can also expect to see guest posts, recommendations, and much more. For paying subscribers, we’ll be publishing one-off, in-depth pieces on various Lancashire issues which will exclusively be available here.
The creation of The Lancashire Lead is part of the The Lead North which launched in Blackpool at the end of 2023 and has already shone the spotlight on far right activity in the town, life in unsafe and mould-filled private rental housing, sexual harassment. It has also delved into the experiences of South Shore’s Romany Gypsies and explored the history of cinema in the town.
The Lead North’s expansion is continuing further and there will soon be a dedicated Hyndburn title sending a weekly - more on that here.
Ultimately, the aim is for The Lancashire Lead to be shaped by what you want to read so your feedback is always appreciated. Please subscribe below and share this newsletter with anyone else interested in the wonderful world of Lancashire news.
Jamie Lopez