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The Press (Dewsbury)

The Press is a weekly freesheet tabloid newspaper distributed to homes in the northern part of Kirklees Metropolitan Borough in West Yorkshire, including the town of Dewsbury and the surrounding communities of Batley, Mirfield, Liversedge, Birstall, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton and Spen Valley.

It was founded in 2002 as an independent publication in direct competition with the Dewsbury Reporter. It’s published by Newspost Ltd. The editorial offices were originally in Dewsbury but have now moved to Batley.

Politically it’s right-wing, populist and at times xenophobic in tone. (Its strapline is “The Intelligent Weekly”.) Its founder and chairman, ex-Reporter journalist Danny Lockwood, stood for selection as a prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Dewsbury in 2009.

It’s had a few scrapes in its time. In 2007 the then local MP Shahid Malik sued it for libel over accusations of electoral malpractice (the case was settled out of court in June 2008 after the original trial failed to reach a verdict) and the Advertising Standards Agency warned it in March 2009 over misleading circulation claims.

Although it’s a freesheet, some copies are also sold through newsagents.

It comes out on Fridays. An e-edition used to be available free through the website but now appears to have been withdrawn.

  • Address:
  • The Press
    31 Branch Road
    BATLEY
    WF17 5SB
  • Tel:
  • 01924 470296
  • Fax:
  • 01924 472561