Local news network expands with new aquisition
'It's a perfect match' says title's founder
A growing network of local newsletters has expanded onto a new patch with the acquisition of an independent title.
The Lead, which already publishes titles in Lancashire, Yorkshire, the North East of England and South Wales, has announced it is adding Stoke-on-Trent based title The Knot to its stable.
The Knot was launched in 2024 by founder James Routledge to provide what he called "independent and optimistic journalism" for Stoke and North Staffordshire.
James, who has been supported by local journalist Helen Dalley, described the link-up with The Lead as "the perfect match."
The acquisition takes the number of titles in The Lead's portfolio to eight, alongside its outlets in Blackpool, Lancashire, Teesside, Southport, Calderdale, the South Wales Valleys and the national edition.
Helen will stay on as editor of The Knot while James will also remain part of the team offering advice and support.
Mike Harris, publisher of The Lead’s titles including its national edition, said: “What James has achieved in launching The Knot and building a loyal and committed readership is a credit to his work as a social entrepreneur.
“I'm delighted The Knot will be joining The Lead's family of local newspaper titles, helping us in our attempt to rethink how high quality local journalism can take root again in communities across the UK."
Added James: “It’s a perfect match. I’m really pleased that The Knot is finding its place with The Lead network. The team are great and the ethos really aligns.
"I’m really excited that there’s a network of local titles like this that can grow together to reach more people in places that are having proper journalism stripped away. On so many levels, this is a good thing!”
Luke Beardsworth, editor of The Lead’s local network, said: “It’s not about making big changes to what The Knot does, which has already proven to be very popular and filling a real gap in the market.
“What we do want to add is The Lead’s brand of in-depth journalism to the mix and I know from our early conversations that Helen is excited to get stuck into that on a more regular basis.”
The Lead’s central team is made up of Ed Walker (managing editor), Zoë Grünewald (Westminster editor), Luke Beardsworth (local editor) and Ella Glover (social media editor).
Individual local editors are Andrew Greaves (Calderdale), Lauren Crosby Medlicott (Valleys), Jamie Lopez (Southport) and Leigh Jones (Teesside).
Hosted on Substack, The Lead's titles focus on health, inequality, environment and telling the stories of places left behind by political neglect.
Its part-paywalled local newsletters are sent out twice-weekly on Wednesdays and Sundays.
