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July 5, 2007

Regionals rise to challenge of floods

By Press Gazette

Newspapers across flood-struck Yorkshire saw their circulations rocket thanks to readers’ pictures and the determination of their journalists.

The Hull Daily Mail saw an increase in sales of 26,000 last week and produced a special supplement on Friday, featuring 16-pages of readers’ images, which sold 7,500 copies – a 14 per cent increase on the previous Friday.

Last Monday, during the worst of the floods, the paper’s website traffic doubled and its video reports of the devastation have been viewed more than 35,000 times.

Editor John Meehan said: “In almost all cases [staff] have come in and done their work as normal… their professionalism is extraordinary.”

The Grimsby Telegraph changed its front-page story at the last minute to cover the impending floods and locals were kept up to date via the paper’s website.

Editor Michelle Lalor said: “This was the week the Grimsby Telegraph showed just how effective its website and newspaper can be when they work side by side.”

In Rotherham in South Yorkshire, one reporter took 16 hours to get home – a journey that normally takes 15 minutes. Cherry Wilson, of the weekly Rotherham Advertiser became stranded in the town on the way to Sheffield and ended up spending the night at the Northern General Hospital. She interviewed all the other people stuck there and filed a feature the next day for the Advertiser.

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? Hallam FM has teamed up with South Yorkshire Authorities and South Yorkshire Community Foundation to launch the South Yorkshire Flood Victim Support Appeal and raised £35,000 in the first three days.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

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