A journalist-turned-academic is launching a fresh attempt to preserve the historical archives of local newspapers amid fears they are being lost.

Dr Rachel Matthews from Coventry University wants to bring together a network of archivists, experts, and community groups to save historic materials such as photographs and article cuttings.

Dr Matthews, pictured, will be working with archive specialist Gary Collins to develop what she says will be a new approach to making valuable archives more accessible.

Working alongside industry stakeholders, they will aim to will develop guidelines for salvaging newspaper records by mapping existing newspaper collections in the Midlands, understanding how to preserve them, and identifying areas where additional support is needed to ensure their long-term survival.

It is not only printed materials that are in danger of being lost. In 2017 HTFP reported how former Local World titles had lost their publicly-accessible online archives when their websites were upgraded following the group’s merger with Trinity Mirror, now Reach plc.

And it was a similar story in 2023 when a website designed to digitise the newspaper archives of the former Archant group disappeared without explanation following the company’s takeover by Newsquest.

Dr Matthews said: “Local newspaper archives are often the only repository for the stories that tell the history of a place. This project is a vital step in safeguarding that history. In addition, they are key artefacts relating to journalism history and tell the story of the local newspaper itself.

“By collaborating with local groups, we can ensure that the heritage captured in our local newspapers is protected for future generations to explore and appreciate.”

Dr Matthews worked in the regional press for 15 years before joining the University in 2008 as an associate professor in journalism and now works in its Research Centre for Arts, Memory and Communities.

Historians have previously warned of an “informational vacuum” being created by the loss of regional press archives in the digital age.