Local, fact-based journalism is more crucial than ever

Yesterday was World News Day. Here, Chronicle and Journal editor-in-chief HELEN DALBY explains just why local news matters so much

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WHO cares about your council tax rises and whether your bins are being regularly emptied?

Who cares about the state of the roads, or if our water company is upping bills while limiting supply?

Who cares about school dinners? The cost of living in the North East today? Community cohesion or community tensions, particularly relevant on a weekend when Newcastle has seen several protests and counter-protests take place in the city centre?

The answer to all of the above, and more is, of course, the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal and our website, ChronicleLive. For all of the changes faced by our North East society over recent years in terms of politics, leadership, and how information is shared, the Chronicle and Journal have been there with you, covering the stories that matter where people live and seeking factual and verified information to inform, educate and entertain our readers and online audiences.

Our journalists have broken stories like the felling of Northumberland's iconic Sycamore Gap tree, where our photographer Craig Connor was the first journalist on the scene, and lifted the lid on topics like the shocking lack of a 24/7 lifesaving stroke service in the North East. We have also celebrated our communities with coverage of events like this month's Great North Run and vibrant scenes as Barcelona fans visited Newcastle for a Champions League match.