Seen a shocking number of tweets from people 'praying' the media will die... clearly don't realise how much society relies on media, particularly local media. Who else is going to hold authorities to account or ask questions for you, or campaign for you?

Half of UK adults use social media for news... if none of the news on social media is coming from verified, reliable sources, how do you know what's real and what's not? It's already a hotbed of misinformation

Speaking of misinformation, lots of it about reporters. I've never met a 'scumbag, phone hacking journalist' (which we often get called, or similar). That doesn't apply to the young, hardworking, ethical-minded reporters in any newsroom I know. Stop tarring them with that brush.

Replies to journos asking for support range from calling them disgusting names, to incredulity that they might be asking you to spend just a few pennies a week on verified, quality news. You wouldn't go to Tesco & speak like that to a key worker, or take things without paying.

And if you don't or can't afford to pay for your news - that's fine. Lots of news from verified news brands is free. But you know what you can do instead? You can shut up. Shut up calling us names, shut up sending us abuse. Recognise we are humans doing a bloody hard job.

A job that is important and vital and society needs. SOCIETY NEEDS JOURNALISM. Stop praying for its demise if you like living in a democracy.