News

More than 4,000 people have backed a campaign by the Express & Star calling for a ban on the sale of deadly knives.

It calls on Home Secretary Sajid Javid to review legislation regarding the sales of knives, swords, machetes and other weapons.

The campaign was launched in the wake of an investigation into the sale of weapons. We found lethal weapons, including a ‘long reach’ machete, can be purchased from shops in the Black Country – with only an ID required.

An address is asked for at the point of purchase, but not checked against a utility bill or driver’s licence.

Eight people have already been stabbed to death in the West Midlands in 2018 and arrests for knife possession are at their highest ever level. Violent crime across the region is up 30 per cent in the last nine years, according to the Home Office, with an 11 per cent rise in the last year alone.

The online petition has seen a surge of support this week after it has been shared across various social media outlets, with around 3,500 having signed the petition last night – with the numbers rising by the hour.

The campaign has also been backed by political leaders across the region, including Wolverhampton council leader Roger Lawrence, Dudley council leader Patrick Harley, Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden and Dudley North MP Ian Austin.

Express & Star editor, Keith Harrison, said: “The response to our story andcampaign has been incredible and I would like to thank everyone for their support. More than 3,000 people have signed our petition so far and the number is rising on an hourly basis.

“I ask everybody who cares about public safety, particularly among the younger members of society, to take 30 seconds out of their day and help us achieve a real change.
“These weapons are truly horrific and should not be on sale over the counter in any civilised society.”

To sign the Express & Star’s petition, visit www.expressandstar.com keep reading

News

Express & Star Editor Keith Harrison, along with other local newspaper editors from independent weekly publications and larger publishing companies, has urged MPs to vote against anti-press amendments in the Data Protection Bill on Wednesday.

Speaking out against the Section 40-style costs sanctions and the sprawling inquiry into all media, senior local newspaper editors – speaking for the vast majority of the regional press industry – said the draconian measures would cause irreparable damage to the sector if enacted.

Express & Star editor Keith Harrison said: “One of the fundamental principles at the Express & Star is our unwavering commitment to independent journalism which is completely free from any form of state interference. The sustained attempts to bring in Section 40 costs sanctions and kick off a sprawling inquiry into the media undermine this principle and we therefore oppose them.”

In an anonymous survey of local newspaper editors conducted by the News Media Association, 92 per cent of respondents said they did not think another “Leveson-style” inquiry into the media should take place with the remaining eight per cent saying they weren’t sure. Not one of the 68 survey respondents thought the inquiry should go ahead.

News

The Prime Minister used the opportunity of a visit to the Express & Star to make clear the Government’s stance on the customs union post-Brexit.

Theresa May has reaffirmed her commitment to Britain leaving the EU customs union.

In an exclusive interview with the Express & Star, the Prime Minister said the Government’s position on the issue would not change.

Labour has called for the UK to join a new customs union after Brexit, saying it would leave the current one but negotiate a treaty afterwards that would ‘do the work of the customs union’.

Mrs May, who has made leaving the customs union central to her Brexit plans, said being a member would leave Britain unable to negotiate crucial free trade deals with the rest of the world.

The Prime Minister visited the Express & Star’s Queen Street offices on April 23 as part of a visit to the Black Country, which also saw her stop off at Dudley firm Boss Design and meet with campaigners in Sedgley.

Following her visit to the Express & Star headquarters, Mrs May was warmly greeted by crowds outside.

Supporters took pictures on their phones and one man even blew her a kiss.

She said it was vital that Britain has ‘as frictionless border with the EU as possible’ once it leaves the EU, but added: “We also want to negotiate our own free trade deals around the rest of the world.

“You can’t be in the customs union and have your own free trade deals. So we want to come out of the customs union.”

She added: “We need to find out ways that we can continue to trade across borders, and of course deliver on our commitment that there will be no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.”

The Government is negotiating what Britain’s customs arrangement will be like post-Brexit. Parliament is set to hold a non-binding vote on the customs union on Thursday.

Last week, the Government suffered defeat on the EU Withdrawal Bill in the House of Lords, when peers voted in favour of staying in the customs union.

The current system allows EU countries to apply the same taxes on imports to goods from outside the union.

It means when goods have cleared customs in one country, they can be shipped to others in the union without additional tariffs being imposed.

Supporters of the customs union say it would help to keep an open border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Earlier in the day Mrs May visited a furniture company as part of the Tories’ local election campaign.

The Prime Minister met machinists and other workers at Boss Design, posing for a selfie with technician upholsterer Derek Whitehouse at the company’s factory.

Boss Design manufactures and supplies furniture for commercial use in the overseas and home markets, including the presenters’ seats currently used on the set of Match Of The Day.

The 47-year-old, who has worked for the firm for more than two decades, told reporters: “She briefly asked me how long I had been here and asked me about the process of the work.”

This article originally appeared in the Express & Star

News

Congratulations are in order, as the MNA picked up two accolades at the News Awards 2018.

The ad booking system Pulse scooped a highly commended award for the Best Use of Advertising Technology.

The Express & Star and Shropshire Star websites were given a commended honour in the News Website of the Year category.

The winners were announced in a ceremony in London in April 18.

Ad creation manager Steve Mills said: “It’s an honour for the Newspaper Awards to recognise Pulse as a ‘Highly Commended’ web based application in the ‘Best Use of Advertising Technology’ category.

“Both MNA and PCS have worked closely over a number of years to make Pulse the highly efficient Production tool that it is today.

“As a result of the scheduling and deadline features that now exist, it has enabled the MNA ad creation department to expand to take on external work alongside its’ own publications in a tightly controlled environment to meet the needs of an ever changing world.”

MNA Digital MD Andy Hill said: “We were delighted to be commended for the website of the year- this is a reflection of the great work done by our editorial and development teams.

“Last year saw the re-launch of our flagship websites. The digital team worked in conjunction with Cyber-Duck, which is an award-winning design agency, and the Washington Posts ARC team.

“The digital team were the first development team in Europe to work on the Washington Posts ARC platform and in addition to implementing our refreshed navigation and design approach, also worked with our sister company PCS to integrate our proprietary print CMS to seamlessly feed content online.

“To be commended along sites such large national sites such as the Independent and The Times shows how well the team delivered on the brief.”

News

More needs to be done to tackle the root of violent crime, a police chief has claimed.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson was speaking as the government backed a campaign by the Express & Star and Mr Jamieson to ban the possession of zombie knives as part of the Home Office’s Serious Violence Strategy.

But the PCC said more still needs to be done, and called for police forces to be given the resources to tackle the root cause of violent crime.

He said: “I am pleased that my campaign to ban the possession of these vile weapons has been successful, but the government needs to go further still and ensure that other weapons with no practical use other than to harm people such as zombie crossbows and other dangerous weapons are banned also.

“In the last month the Home Office told me they had no intention of banning so-called zombie crossbows.”

He added: “I am investing an extra £2 million from my budget to tackle the root causes of violence.

“I hope as part of the government’s strategy there is also real action and additional financial support for areas such as the West Midlands.

“We need more than just warm words and law changes to end the violence on our streets.

“We need additional resources for police forces and resources to support projects tackling the root causes of violent crime.”

Mr Jamieson met with Home Secretary Amber Rudd in Westminster last month to ask the government to match the millions of pounds he has put forward for a two-year scheme to tackle violence and gangs.

News

Express & Star Editor Keith Harrison made his debut appearance on Sky TV yesterday morning for the papers review.

Keith was approached by Sky as part of an initiative to get voices from beyond the M25 onto their morning flagship show.

He is one of the first regional editors to appear on the Sky sunrise papers review show, and was able to give a perspective from the West Midlands.

Keith appeared alongside environmentalist Amy Cameron, with issues including the Russian disaster, knife crime and the gender pay gap being discussed.

Keith said: “I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was great to have some national exposure for the Express & Star.

“I worked in a few references to our Express & Star campaigns on knife crime and our interview with Jeremy Corbyn.

“It’s great that Sky are getting a wider perspective from different regions on their flagship morning show. I even managed to get a couple of gags in there as well.”

News

The MNA can confirm its gender pay gap results ahead of the April 4 deadline.

Under the UK Government’s Gender Pay Gap Regulations, employers in Great Britain with more than 250 employees are required to report their gender pay gap.

The results uploaded to the GOV.UK website show female staff receive an hourly rate which is, on average, 10.2% lower than male staff. On average, bonus pay for female staff is 33% higher than for male colleagues.

We will continue to promote equality and inclusion at Midland News Association Ltd and are committed to reducing the gender pay gap.

To see the MNA’s GOV.UK website statement click here

To download the MNA statement PDF click here

I can confirm our data is accurate.

Graeme Clifford, Managing Director

The Midland News Association Ltd

News

News

The MNA is pleased to announce that Trish Penny has been promoted to the position of promotions manager with effect from next month.

Trish will formally take over from Viv Birch after Viv leaves at the end of this month following an amazing career with the company covering 40 years.

In her new role, Trish will be responsible for the successful delivery of the full range of MNA events, including the Express & Star Business Awards and the Great Big Thank You Awards across both the Black Country and Shropshire.

Having first joined the company in January 1986, Trish has held a series of positions in the advertising and promotions department. She is currently the MNA’s deputy promotions manager.

Trish will assume her new role from April 2.

Meanwhile, Catrin Guy has joined the promotions team as events and campaign executive.

Catrin has worked in a similar position for the Black Country Chamber of Commerce.

News

The MNA is in the running for two awards at this year’s Newsawards 2018.

The first award we have been shortlisted for is News Website of the Year. MNA Digital entered the new platform Express & Star and Shropshire Star websites.

The second award we have been shortlisted for is Best Use of Advertising Technology. We entered ad booking production system Pulse, which is hosted by sister company PCS.

Ad creation manager Steve Mills said: “To be shortlisted for this award is a great achievement for the team.

“Pulse has enabled the MNA to take on ad creation work from outside the business. This has increased revenue dramatically.

“The software has been created by PCS to enable the MNA to be more efficient in ad creation, meaning outside contracts could be taken on. The team now create 2,500 adverts every week.”

Digital MD Andy Hill said: “It is fantastic to be recognised for our redesigned websites through our award nomination.

“The new sites are powered by the Washington Post’s Arc Publishing, making the MNA the first UK publisher to use this technology. The sites have changed from an open source CMS to a state-of-the-art digital platform.

“Based on user testing, the redesign gives a cleaner look, making it easier for users to navigate around. The defined areas for key content, like local news demonstrate less clutter.”

The winner will be announced at a gala event at the Royal Lancaster London on April 18.