STAFF in the Stourbridge newspaper offices that produce the Stourbridge News, Halesowen News, Dudley News, Kidderminster Shuttle, Bromsgrove Advertiser, Redditch & Alcester Advertiser and Droitwich Advertiser fell silent this morning (Thursday) as a mark of respect for victims of the Charlie Hebdo massacre.

Journalists in the St John’s Road newsroom fell silent at 11am in honour of those murdered by masked gunmen in yesterday’s attack on the French satirical magazine in Paris.

Senior reporter Martyn Smith, Father of the NUJ Chapel in Stourbridge, said: “Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in Paris defending free speech which is a vital part of any democracy.”