I have always wanted to be a journalist.
I love finding out what’s going on and discovering people’s stories and then telling other people – it’s that simple for me.
Since starting Caerphilly Observer more than ten years ago, I have always tried to balance covering the serious stuff with the news items that best reflect our communities.
I have been a reporter in different parts of the country over my career, but nothing beats being a local journalist on your home patch – especially this one.
In my previous article I spoke of the commercial challenges facing Caerphilly Observer as the economy takes a big hit.
Around 75% of our turnover is from local businesses advertising with us in print and on our website.
Without that, we wouldn’t be able to reflect and represent our community.
It was a message heard loud and clear by you, our readers.
I have been inundated with offers of help and support – both emotionally and financially.
You have responded by taking out postal subscriptions, writing letters of support, offering to help with distribution and cash donations. These gestures all add up to something substantial and I want to thank you.
People have been asking how we’ve adapted to the so-called lockdown. It hasn’t been easy, but I have an amazing team who have all been working from home under very trying circumstances.
So thank you to Rhys, Joanne, Levi and Rhiann for making it all work.
Huge thanks must also go to University of South Wales sports journalism students Callum Ellis and Tom Pritchard, and Cardiff University journalism student Gareth Axenderrie.
We have certainly not been short of stories over recent weeks, but they all take time to write and their extra help has been invaluable to us – especially as my time has been taken up by having to concentrate on the business side of things.
The support shown has confirmed something that I have always known – that the people of our county borough are something special.
We pull together in more ways than one and we always look after each other in our time of need.
Thank you.
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