IT’S not exactly news that newspapers are struggling financially across the industry. Some papers have hit pause on the printing press and migrated to click-driven, SEO-optimised stories online to slash costs. Others have put up a paywall across articles.

We’re not immune to these changing economic times either. But we have always believed in the democratic value of having a free, physical newspaper that anyone can pick up. For the past 22 years, a free newspaper has appeared every week in our blue dispensers across the borough. For those that can’t afford extra expenses in their budget, or for people without access to the internet, we want to continue this service.

But to keep doing what we do best, we need to adapt so we can continue asking the questions that matter and scrutinising the decisions made in this borough.

That’s why we’ve set up a Substack newsletter, the NewJournal+, with both a paid and a free version. This format has also given us the opportunity to write longer pieces and to dig deeper into important stories that we don’t have the physical space to go into depth in our paper.

So far we’ve written about a Vermeer painting that was stolen from Kenwood House, and a developer in Kentish Town who is attempting to wriggle out of its affordable housing commitment.

Last week, the Tribune’s Isabel Loubser was on the scene at a far-right protest outside a hostel housing asylum seekers in Old Street. Not only did she cover the action, but she also spoke to refugees in a hotel in King’s Cross about living in temporary accommodation.

In these fractious times, giving space to cover stories like this matter more than ever.

Plus we’ve started our column of juicy local politics gossip, the North London Bubble, and send out a weekly summary of the biggest news happening in Islington.

• So join us as we embark on our new future by signing up at newjournal.substack.com