FROM THE EDITOR: This is not the first difficult time for newspapers but it is one of the worst

The Star has recorded Sheffield’s story for almost 140 years. I have often given talks on this subject but never has it felt more relevant than right now.
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We were there, reporting, right through both wars and kept the city up-to-date when it was ravaged by the blitz bombing.

When the Hole in the Road opened – and closed; when Coles was on its corner, in its new spot and then renamed; and when our clubs brought home silverware – not that often – we preserved shared memories for posterity.

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My mind has often wondered about Leonard Mosley, described in print at the time as Sheffield Newspaper’s man behind the frontline.

Not the first difficult time for newspapers but one of worstNot the first difficult time for newspapers but one of worst
Not the first difficult time for newspapers but one of worst

His was the toughest role, parachuted in with a typewriter and faced with the most awful scenes of war.

Working from home does not compare but the challenge for the very survival of newspapers is worthy of note.

Of course, we are not expecting today’s reporters to risk their lives and we are operating under the government’s guidance for essential workers.

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But these are difficult days and we started this week with fewer journalists on our team – temporarily – that we started with last week.

As with all local newspaper groups across the country, we have had to take the terribly tough decision to furlough some staff.

Every single journalist who works for JPIMedia, the company that owns The Star, has also agreed to a paycut of 15 per cent on average.

There has been little choice as advertising revenues have fallen dramatically for obvious reasons during the lockdown.

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That is why we owe huge thanks to readers – of our newspaper and our online subscribers – who understand the value of well-researched and carefully written news that informs, educates, challenges and entertains.

There would be little point in us reporting if it weren’t for you and while we have always known it, it is more obvious than ever now how much this is a team effort.

We want to be there for you in these loneliest of times and we need to ask you to be there for us too.

Please keep writing to us, sharing your stories, sending in your photos and – most importantly – buying your daily copy of The Star.

In 2020 the world is united in fighting one common enemy. I can’t help wondering what Leonard, with his typewriter, would have made of us and all our technology.

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