Newspapers are the last bastion of democracy

THINGS are gradually moving back to not-quite-normal again. And we all know that the “not quite” is going to be a challenge. Having a pint in the pub will be great – though you will no longer be able to prop up the bar. Foreign holidays will be far from spontaneous. Jumbo jets could be a thing of the past, simply too big to fly halfempty. Christmas street fairs could be just a memory – no more jostling with a cup of mulled wine past carol singers as you try and get in line to buy some yummy street food.

And lively barn dances, huggy weddings, reunions could be but a dream for the next year or so. Sporting events too, are a work in progress – the list goes on.

No one likes not-quite-normal but we can’t do much about it. There are, however, other aspects of our life that are as familiar as breathing. And that’s reading newspapers.

Whether you’re left wing, right wing, or no wing, newspapers are just there. We take them for granted and I defy anyone not to cast a glance at their headlines as they queue in supermarkets, or listen to the vendors raucously bellow out the latest news, thrusting a copy at you as you scurry along.

But soon, unless you do something about it, even these are going to be a thing of the past. How would you feel about that? National newspapers may survive by the skin of their teeth, but as you read this article, realise that this paper, which has been the voice of the Westcountry since 1860, is on life support. It’s fighting for breath and you, dear readers, are the only ones that can save it.

The Western Morning News is a tough old bird. She’s published continuously despite the best efforts of the General Strike in 1926 and Hitler’s Luftwaffe during the war. To lose her after all this would be a tragedy for the region. She can be saved – but it’s up to you.

The shortage of advertising has meant that some staff are furloughed, some are being made redundant, some have had salary cuts and others are working for nothing. And those of us associated with the production of the paper have accepted those situations because we realise that newspapers are the last bastion of democracy. Newspapers mean free speech, they mean putting across local opinions and campaigning for change in your area where no-one else could.

Newspapers change laws, public opinion and more. Whatever your political persuasion you can have your say or read articles knowing you are unlikely to be jailed, as you would if you were in North Korea or China. You can be irritated, amused, informed, entertained. And the Western Morning News is the embodiment of a publication that has championed the Westcountry – by representing the rural areas, the towns and the cities. It has represented farmers and city dwellers alike with integrity and parity and is trusted and valued throughout the region.

And that’s why those of us who are involved with the newspaper are trying to do our bit to ensure the paper doesn’t die. Because if it does, it’s unlikely to have a second coming, a resurrection or reincarnation. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. So if you want your newspaper to continue landing on your doormat each day, it’s up to you to fork out. We can’t do much about the demise of the jumbo jet but we can do something about the survival of papers.

What about online news? Of course it’s important and it has a huge role to play in news sharing. I read my phone avidly for the latest information and very possibly, in years to come, that’s the only way things will be. But I’m not ready to give up the fight for newsprint, nor am I convinced that others are too.

Maybe it’s an age thing, but skimming the papers in the morning, or wading through a pile of newsprint on a Sunday is, for many of us, very much a part of our daily lives. Local papers, particularly, have a familiarity and knowledge of their readers and their regions that I’ve yet to sense from online stories.

And personally, I find a sense of detachment from online stories that I don’t get when I have a paper in my hand, where I can find all the areas and read stories that seem to jump out at me more than when written on a screen.

So what’s to do? Well its easy really. You can ask your local newsagent to deliver to your door. Or you can go online https://www.newspapersubs. co.uk/wnd and subscribe to the paper – delivered to your home with a 20% discount. Or you can have it posted if you are out of region. You can ring 0333 202 8000 to talk to someone. Or just pick up a copy when you see it in the shop – with the discount too.

This week, when you’re enjoying your pint in the pub, know that for the price of a couple of beers you could save your local paper. Now that’s something to raise a glass to.

The Western Morning News is the embodiment of a publication that has championed the Westcountry – by representing the rural areas, towns and the cities. It has represented farmers and city dwellers alike with integrity and parity