News matters. Communities matter. That is why The Press is proud to join in the celebrations for Local Newspaper Week - the week when papers across the country remind readers of the important work they do. LUCY STEPHENS reports.

IT is printed six days out of seven, and it is written by journalists who live in the local community.

The editors, reporters, sub-editors, photographers, printers, copytakers and artists who work to produce your local newspaper - The Press, serving York, North and East Yorkshire - live and work here too.

We travel on the same roads, use the same health service, pay the same taxes - and that is one of the reasons why we are passionate about reporting the issues that matter to our local community.

It is also why newspapers across the country are this week marking Local Newspaper Week, a celebration of local reporting.

So we thought we would look at some of the things we would like to celebrate about The Press - from the causes we have championed to the charities we have supported.

Our latest campaign, Change It, is challenging the Government to create a new law which will allow judges to ban child abductors from working with youngsters - a power they do not have at present.

The emotive campaign has already won the backing of Sara Payne, mother of murdered Sarah Payne, and would see kidnappers finally facing being put on the Sex Offenders' Register.

We run other campaigns too. This is the third year of our Community Pride awards, run with City of York Council, which highlight unsung heroes in our city and honour them at a glittering ceremony.

Our annual business awards are also a highlight for local firms.

This year, we are also running our Guardian Angels appeal which aims to raise £300,000 to transform high-dependency paediatric care at York Hospital.

The cash will improve life for the sickest children going to hospital and, where possible, ensure they can be treated in York and avoid a potentially distressing transfer outside the city.

Since the appeal began last October, we have been overwhelmed with support and today our total stands at more than £50,000. There is still a long way to go - but readers have so far thrown themselves enthusiastically behind the campaign, and we thank them.

The Press can support the local community in other ways, too. Every day we publish interesting, exclusive stories about life in our area. We tell you what is happening with your local NHS, how your taxes are being spent, how those who commit crimes on your streets are being brought to justice.

And our readers are given their say, too. Every day our letters pages carry a wealth of correspondence on a range of subjects.

As our editor, Kevin Booth, puts it: "The regional press has a lot to shout about and it is absolutely right that we mark Local Newspaper Week.

"At The Press, we provide an unrivalled package of local news, features, sport, opinions and information. We're also the first port of call for people looking for advertising and promotions.

"But our involvement with the local community goes much further than that. We try to recognise the best of all things local through our Business Awards and York Community Pride schemes, our Guardian Angels appeal is in full swing and we're currently campaigning vigorously for a change in the law on child abduction.

"No other medium does it better or in anything like the same depth."

Pupils on the path to print

THE world of newspapers and magazines is often introduced during teenage years - and school pupils in York are no exception.

At Joseph Rowntree School, pupils are given the chance to produce their own newspaper at a yearly enterprise day - and The Press regularly joins other local companies who lend a hand.

Students of 13 and 14 are set the challenge of writing and editing their own magazine during the day, and it gives them an insight into the looming deadlines and frantic typing that is the mark of an ordinary day in the office for a print reporter.

Meanwhile, pupils from Fulford School turned journalists for the day back in March to compile their own paper as part of the Times Educational Supplement Newsday competition.

What they are saying about us

Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York:

"We rely on the media to tell us what is going on on the other side of the world, and in the case of local newspapers, what is happening down our street. That puts a great responsibility on editors and reporters, and they deserve both our appreciation and our prayers."

Mick Cook, head coach of York City Knights:

"The Press gives a lot of publicity to clubs playing football and various other sports - both professional and amateur - in the city.

"It provides information to a wide range of people. People are always looking to join new clubs and finding out what's available in sport. Also, those who have lived in the York area may not follow their old teams so closely, but they still like to see how they are doing in competitions."

Keith Chapman, chairman of Nunnery Area Residents' Association:

"The Press is part of the community. It keeps us in touch with each other. It also supports charities, which is very important. It has a lot to do with raising money for good causes.

"One of the things that raises the profile of The Press is getting out there and mixing with people. Not all of us can get a newsletter out to our residents. Local newspapers deal with local issues. This is what people want. As readers, our responsibility is to send stuff in that's important - we must make sure that we send in information on what's going on in each area."

Mike Proctor, director of nursing at York Hospital:

"Local newspapers play a crucial role for the communities they serve: they provide news and essential information, and enable local public and private businesses to reach their customers effectively and efficiently.

"They also lead campaigns on local issues as the voice of their communities.

"Health is a vital issue for all local communities, and The Press provides substantial coverage of health issues in and surrounding the York. We welcome the newspaper's role in helping to hold those of us that are responsible for delivering health care to account for what we do.

"We might not always agree with what is said, but we always welcome any opportunity to explain and communicate with the public we serve on contentious issues."

Updated: 09:31 Wednesday, May 10, 2006