TODAY marks a very important date in our calendar – Local Newspaper Week.

Newspapers are still the lifeblood of the communities they both serve and cover despite the onward march of new technology.

The internet may do a lot of wonderful things, but nothing beats a newspaper in your hands where you can see such a vast range of subjects in such a compact, quick and easy-to-read form.

Newspapers countrywide have seen declining sales in recent years and it’s a constant battle not only to keep readers, but also to attract new ones.

Just think if the Examiner wasn’t here for you.

Who would be the watchdog for local democracy? Where would you turn after all other avenues of complaint against the big, often faceless companies, have failed?

Who would promote local arts, music and theatre?

How would you learn about the vital issues that affect your daily lives?

The Examiner is an important thread that knits communities together.

In the last few weeks we teamed up with the Community Foundation for Calderdale to give local charities and good causes in Kirklees £30,000 – money some could never have dreamed of raising.

We are here for you – and want to be for decades to come.

Thank you for reading us.