The British local and regional press after Leveson

The Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practice and ethics of the press is undoubtedly one of the most significant events in the recent history of British media. Lord Justice Leveson’s verdict was damning for the national press but he praised the local press for its contribution to local life and for not succumbing to the ethically questionable practices of the nationals. While the Leveson report did not contain any specific recommendations for the improvement of the regional press, it called for urgent government action to prevent its demise. What happened after Leveson − how have regional and local journalists been affected by the Inquiry and all subsequent developments? This question is at the core of this special issue, which features articles from both academics and practitioners. The authors deal with a wide variety of issues – from normative questions about the role of journalists and (new) business models to more specific enquiries into journalists’ post-Leveson working routines and practices.