National Newspaper Week kicked off Sunday and continues through Saturday, and we ask you to join us in celebrating newspapers and all they do for their communities.

Research into what happens when towns lose their newspaper reveals that newspapers anchor democratic action.

When newspapers leave, voter participation, the number of candidates seeking local office, participation in civic clubs, and donations to local nonprofits and other local causes goes down, while government corruption and government spending tend to go up.

That’s because newspapers are there to tell you what’s broken in your community so you can decide if and how you want to fix it. Newspapers are there to tell you what’s working in your community so you can decide how if and how you want to support it. Newspapers serve as government watchdogs so you know what your government’s spending your money on, so you can hold your government accountable at the ballot box.

If you’re reading this, you’re doing your part.

If you’re not a subscriber to your local paper or papers, subscribe. Tell your friends and neighbors to subscribe.

If you own a business, subscribe in your local paper, which not only benefits your paper but benefits your business, because newspaper readers more than consumers of other media are more likely to act upon the ads they see. If you don’t own a business, support the businesses you see advertised in your newspaper and tell them you saw the ad so they know their ad is working.

This Newspaper Week, do all you can to support your local newspaper or newspapers, which is to support your community.