Let me be a little self-indulgent for a moment. At the end of the week, the paper I work for will celebrate its hundredth birthday so it's time to reflect on why we - and you - matter.

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Sometimes this industry is enveloped in gloom, and there are obvious reasons for that, but we should also remember why journalism done by journalists remains vitally important - I say "vitally" because it is essential for the life of a strong democracy.

I am obviously preaching to the converted because you are reading this. Wherever you are, you are taking the trouble to engage in argument. You are curious and interested and I thank you for that.

A report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation put it succinctly:

"Journalism is an economic enabler: it can reduce corruption, lower the cost of doing business, encourage the fair and transparent distribution of resources, and support economic growth and development.

"Journalism supports national security: it makes societies more resilient to disinformation and the interference of malicious actors, and reduces the risk of conflict and war.

Journalism improves the response to crises: it provides information that saves lives, and improves preparation and response to disaster and crises."

When I talk about journalism, I'm talking generally about newspapers but also broadcasting, what is sometimes insultingly called the "legacy media" - the term is often used by people who don't like the old, trusted ways of journalism where journalists made the best stab at getting at the truth. Imperfect it and we may be, but we do our best.

The decriers of the legacy media like to think that the untrammeled internet does it better. It doesn't, obviously so.

Every time I hear someone predicting the great benefits of a whizzo new technology, I remember the breathless........

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