Today is the first day of Local Newspaper Week.

The theme this year is Building Stronger Communities, highlighting the important role of local papers at the heart of their cities, towns and villages, and working with local people and businesses through the recession to emerge fitter and better than ever.

The Post is just one of hundreds of newspapers across the UK taking part in the annual celebration, as we remind our readers, advertisers, MPs and decision-makers why a thriving local media industry – in print and online – is so important to us all.

On the front page of the Post are the words "At the heart of all things local", and that is where we strive to be.

We want to be at the heart of the Bristol community, the first place residents turn to when they want to find out the news from where they live, whether that be Ashton Vale, Bedminster, Clifton, Downend, Emersons Green, Filton, Withywood or Yate.

Mike Norton, editor of the Post, said: "As a Bristolian, I know how important the Evening Post is to Bristol. It is a city institution and one of our most recognisable brands. The Post is the voice of the city, it sets Bristol's news agenda, scrutinises its leaders, celebrates it successes, campaigns for its citizens, covers important issues in depth and is never afraid to tackle difficult subjects head-on."

Radio and television presenter John Humphrys kicked off his journalistic career on a number of local titles including the Penarth Times and Western Mail. He said: "Local newspapers hold local authorities to account. Whether you're reporting the local court or council, local papers bring the way the community works into everybody's home.

"If we don't have local newspapers who is going to do that? If people don't know what is going on in their community, how are they going to hold to account the people that run their lives?

"In the end, that is the point of local newspapers. They are essential."

Television and radio journalist John Sergeant, who found new fans when he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, started as a cub reporter at the Liverpool Echo.

He said: "Local papers are not just amazing training grounds for people like me, but they also infuse the community with that lifeblood of information, democracy and informed comment. Without local newspapers you don't get a proper sense of community; you get no ordinary way of living."