IMAGINE a council which takes your money in tax and then spends it how it wants – without ever really having its decisions face the test of public scrutiny.

Imagine a developer riding roughshod over your neighbourhood without any fear of being held to account.

Imagine injustices and scandals nobody hears about, brushed under the carpet without a question being asked.

Imagine voices unheard and limitations on debate and discussion.

All of this may sound weighty and grandiose – we are a local paper, not the full Woodward and Bernstein – but the demise of local newspapers around the country is creating a dangerous vacuum.

Our paper has refused to slide down the clickbait tunnel of publishing anything to fill a space and still has a team of reporters asking questions.

It’s long hours, low wages – but the Islington Tribune has always been there to perform this role.

Of course, economic landscape and business models are changing, and the best way to ensure we are still here to continue this work for a lot longer yet is to sign up to our NewJournal+ newsletters.

You can find us at newjournal.substack.com

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