JOURNALISM matters is a new campaign highlighting the vital role trusted news media – such as your long-established newspapers here in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley – plays in our democratic society.

According to research carried out by YouGov last year, local newspapers in print and digital are three time more trusted for local news and information than social media platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn.

The actual trust ratings are 74 per cent for local newspapers compared with just 22 per cent for social media.

We take our role in our communities very seriously which is why you will often see our reporters and photographers out and about covering what’s important to local people.

Of course these are challenging times commercially but our commitment to accurate, fair and responsible journalism is absolute.

We take nobody’s side and we are in nobody’s pocket. Our independence is what makes us strong and means we will act on behalf of readers when necessary.

The death of local newspapers has been greatly exaggerated – there are 1,000 local media titles in the UK and they are read in print and online by some 42 million adults in Great Britain.

Advertising in local newspapers makes great sense – some 52 per cent of readers are in the more affluent ABC1 social group and local newspapers reach more 15-24 year olds than local radio.

We believe in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley and our promise to our readers is that we will maintain that independence and fairness on their behalf.