Today is the start of a new era for The Packet and I’d like to introduce myself as the new editor of your weekly newspaper.

I’ve been working in the local press for the past 13 years, on weekly and daily newspapers and online.

In that time I can’t even begin to touch on how much what we do has changed. When I started out local newspapers were only just about beginning to dabble with the internet.

Today we publish stories online all day every day as they happen and many of our readers will come to those stories via our Facebook and Twitter accounts.

But, while the way we deliver news has changed, what we believe in and stand for has not.

I believe passionately in local news. We are here to highlight issues, hold authority to account, give you a platform and a voice when you need it, celebrate your achievements and share in your heartbreak.

People are at the centre of what we do and one thing I want to do as editor is reconnect with our communities.

Over the coming weeks and months you will see the Packet titles and their online counterparts develop more of a personality – and weekly updates from me as editor will be part of that.

I hope to get out and about and meet as many people as possible as I settle into the role. I want to know what matters to you, what we’re doing well, what you don’t like and what you want to see more of.

Done right, local newspapers should be a key part of their communities and respected by them. My aim is to make sure that’s the case.

So let’s open a dialogue – if you want to talk to me, or meet me, get in touch via the details below.

I’ll make no bones about it – we need your support. In 2018 it’s not as easy to get people to pick up a newspaper than it was even five years ago.

I think we’re good value for 80p – if you do too then please keep supporting us. As time goes on my aim is to pack as much as we can into our pages to make that cover price excellent value.

While we will try to make our website and social media pages about what’s happening right now and what might affect your day, the paper will be the chronicle of the week that it has always been – pictures from events, issues that matter to you and helping to right wrongs.

If we’re to keep doing that – standing up for our communities – then we need your help.

So get in touch if you want to talk – call me on 01326 213336 email Steven.Smith@newsquest.co.uk, tweet @StevePacket