By its very nature a suburban newspaper is not only part of the community and a leader in that community, it is vitally involved in the community it serves and a powerful supporter of community actions and interests.

At their best local papers are catalysts for change in the community; forums for open discussion. Essentially suburban newspapers have a closer connection with their readers than other newspapers that, being more remote, carry less, or a different kind, of credibility with their readers.

Local newspapers are intensely interested and curious about their readers; identifying and understanding them in order to satisfy their informational needs and also to enable advertisers to know the market and meet its requirements. The good suburban newspaper seeks continually to understand the characteristic and behaviour, the habitats and inclinations of its readers; and in truth the interests, the passions and concerns of the community.

The community in turn shapes the paper. The letters to the editor page, for instance, has immediate relevance to readers for, while they are concerned on the wider and deeper issues of the broader community, and indeed the planet, what decision the council made about a certain development or the state of the railway service, or lack of it, it is of first importance.

A vital suburban newspaper draws its being from the community and equally it gives back to that community. What is happening in the neighbourhood most closely concerns inhabitants; the local news of the week, the gossip, opinions, discussion, disagreement, the achievements of local heroes and heroines, these are what is grist to the mill. It is, unfailingly, week after week, a forum for the residents' thoughts, suggestions and ideas; the views, criticism and complaints, not forgetting the praise! The local paper gets to the heart of the matter. It is the community's voice.

The suburban newspaper has unerring instinct for what makes local news - it is a mistake to disparage this focus - and that is its very strength. In supplying authoritative, quality editorial that is backed up by strong marketing promotions it plays a role in the local community that no other publication can.

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