THIS week the Free Press celebrates our vital public role as part of Holding Our Community Together, our campaign to shine a light on the impact made by your trusted local news brand every week.
As people consume more news and information than ever before, in print and digitally, news titles like ours perform an important duty in delivering information from local authorities while still holding to account leading local organisations over their decisions.
Just as we have always reported on local events throughout our history, the Covid-19 pandemic showed how we could update our audiences with the latest news about the impact in our community and the work to shape the way forward from the accompanying lockdowns.
With many people turning to their trusted local newspaper to understand how the Covid-19 was affecting local life, we stayed true to our aim of reporting on the big issues which matter to our community.
Our print publication and website were an important platform for people to access the latest news and information, especially in the early weeks when life ground to a halt.
We believe we hold a unique place in local life by holding to account local decision makers, which many other providers do not do. We take seriously the mantle of being the trusted news brand for our community.
Nobody can represent our community like your local news brand. We continue to report the latest news from our public services, such as the police, fire service, NHS and local authorities. When they plan changes which impact you, we hold them to account on your behalf.
Recently, we have brought you news such as:
* The short-term night-time closure of the Minor Injuries Unit at Minehead Community Hospital.
* Minehead town councillors’ call for a meeting with highways and other authorities over a sinkhole which has appeared in a town lane.
* That one in nine adults in the Somerset West and Taunton area had not had a Covid-19 vaccination towards the end of last month.
* Minehead Town Council’s objections to plans for 60 new homes on the southern edge of the town in the Hopcott Road area.
Thank you for continuing to value the local news provided by the Free Press and supporting us in keeping the community together.
Mark Pritchett (Editor)