For years many councils have berated their local press – often with justification.

Barely ten years ago, a head of communications would block out time in the diary for the weekly ritual of berating editors and news editors with accusations of unfair coverage, biased reporting and inaccuracies. Communications meetings with leaders were often dominated by discussing (usually with expletives) the negative impact of headlines, letters and opinion pieces. Rarely, if ever, was any time spent recognising the important role local papers played in connecting their communities with what is happening around them.