Praise for The Yorkshire Post’s coronavirus coverage

WELL, you certainly pulled out the stops in the March 28 edition of The Yorkshire Post. The best yet, and worthy of a big ‘thank you’.

From page two onwards with your moving editorial on the way your paper is managing these difficult times through
to hearing about all those Yorkshire people who are stepping up to help out, I felt
very emotional on reading some of the articles.

Particularly about the loss of income and disappointment of having to cancel shows which mean so much to the farmers and local produce growers. Also the farmers worrying about how their produce will be picked ready for our tables.

Yet small companies are changing and innovating – some changing their use to make sanitisers, those keeping going and working long shifts to keep chemicals flowing for use in industry and the NHS.

What an amazing county we live in – and country – as we find volunteers in their thousands coming forward to fill the gap and help out where needed. Thanks to our amazing NHS and all those involved with our health care.

We are in for more difficult times and we need lots of positive stories to keep us going. And like Christa Ackroyd, I hope we will all remember to support our British farmers when this is over, notwithstanding it might cost us a few pence more.

Keep it up – and keep giving
us those great stories and articles.

From: Miss J Hopper, Hazel Heads, Baildon.

I WANTED to thank James Michinson, editor of The Yorkshire Post, for your piece in Saturday’s newspaper explaining the reason for the change in the format of the YP.

You preside over what must be the best newspaper in the country, not just the region. The news is presented in a calm, fair manner without bias or sensationalism which is what we need, particularly at this difficult time.

Thank you for continuing to hold local and national government to account and for highlighting issues so important to the Yorkshire region and being a voice for us all. Thank you also to the journalists providing the news and articles, keeping us up to date with what is important every day. It is much appreciated.

From: John Dawson, Gainsborough Court, Skipton.

I WAS very disappointed to read the column by Jayne Dowle (The Yorkshire Post, March 30) attacking the Prime Minister and his Government and advisers during this coronavirus outbreak.

I wonder if she has been listening to the same broadcasts and press conferences as the rest of us. I, and all those I know, think Boris and his team of Ministers and advisers have done a brilliant job giving the leadership we want to see.

This is an unprecedented situation but, on the steps we need to take, they have been clear and, on the economic actions to protect us all, they have come up with solutions on very complicated matters which no-one ever thought would be necessary.

It is time to stop making her political points and carping. We should be grateful for the leadership we are getting.

From: David Downs, Sandal, Wakefield.

THERE were some very good suggestions in Jayne Dowle’s article on how the Government could improve its communications with the public over coronavirus, but why does she have to present them in such an arrogant and adversarial manner?

She must appreciate that there is not a single statesman/woman in this present Parliament; there is no-one in this Parliament who has the ability to motivate the public in the likes of Winston Churchill.

Why does she not therefore present her ideas direct or through her local MPs, in a 
more constructive and less aggressive and adversarial manner to the PM, instead of trying to gain brownie points against Mr Johnson?

From: Chris Giddings, Springwood Drive, Halifax.

I READ with some disquiet Jayne Dowle’s piece. The headline began with the words ‘bluff and bluster’, referring to the handling of the coronavirus crisis by Boris Johnson and his Government. It isn’t helpful to see continuous coverage on television by so called experts giving us their time – and only adding to the worry and confusion that so many are suffering.

Let’s consider the NHS staff, doctors, nurses, paramedics and all carrying out their duties in harrowing circumstances and stop thinking of only ourselves. We will get through this crisis, but we need less of the armchair experts.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor