Journalists play a vital role in our national life. As a former journalist myself, I know that journalism at its best holds the powerful to account and gives voice to the powerless.
Quality journalism is vitally important to the health of our democracy and society as a whole.
And that’s all the more true in the case of local journalism.
In a country as diverse as Scotland, we need journalists who can report on and reflect all of our varied communities and the issues that matter to you.
For generations, the Press & Journal has been trusted to give the news that matters in the North East and the Highlands – and today the paper has a circulation that some national newspapers must look at with envy.
As an industry, newspapers across the world face a huge challenge as the public increasingly look to other sources for news.
The fact that local papers like the Press & Journal continue to thrive shows that readers will pay for news when it’s quality ,when it’s trustworthy – and when it’s local.
Whether it’s politics, sport, community events, farming or business, local newspapers can cover the stories that might otherwise be missed.
That’s no small thing. In fact, it puts local journalism at the very heart of communities across Scotland.
So let’s be grateful for local journalism – and buy a paper.