Newspapers are a vital cog in the working gears of democracy

So if standards of journalism are to be maintained, then investment is required and that means end-users are going have to pay for it. The alternative is so-called citizen journalism which is great in theory but which has more flaws than merits because of the unprofessional approach often adopted by its users

EVER since I started reporting and writing for newspapers 20 years ago I’ve been listening to predictions of their imminent demise. I’ve never really taken these claims too seriously, believing the desire to consume news, information and entertainment in a written and printed form — rather than merely by broadcast media — would remain strong.

Now though, for the first time, I’m getting a little worried about the future of an industry I love working in and which I believe is essential to a properly functioning democratic society.