Trust is the heartbeat of journalism - and to be trusted in our communities has never been more important than it is now.

That trust, however, has to be earned. It can never be taken for granted and the responsibility that comes with it should never be forgotten.

Those of us whose job it is to tell the news know that - and are proud of it. In this unfortunate era of fake news, you need to know that what you’re reading is the truth; that it’s reliable and right up to date.

For more than 200 years, The Cumberland News has been bringing you news and information that you can trust. The mission to do so is as important to our journalists today as it was to our founding fathers.

When Dean Isaac Milner launched our forerunner, The Carlisle Patriot, in 1815 it was said that there was a growing need for a newspaper which would collect, interpret and disseminate information of local, national and international importance.

In these times of huge political and social change, that need now is as great - perhaps even greater, given the noise that can be generated on social media - as it was then.

That brings us back to trust.

Whether you agree with the viewpoints being presented, you want to know that you can truly believe what you’re reading.

And that’s what our journalists do day in, day out, whether it be in print, online or on social media. We work hard to maintain your trust, whether that be in explaining or outlining the differing arguments when covering the latest on Brexit, reporting from council chambers, court rooms or sports stadiums, or when you entrust us to tell stories on your life by letting us into your home and sharing your feelings or experiences, in all sorts of circumstances.

Doing that is a privilege which is not lost on any of us.

The ability of journalists to speak truth to power is one of the most precious freedoms in our democratic society.

Acting on behalf of the public, journalists reveal truths that would otherwise remain hidden, exposing them to public scrutiny.

That was a message that was loud and clear yesterday as part of #trustednewsday and was one that we at The Cumberland News have been proud to support as part of the Journalism Matters campaign, a drive launched this week to highlight the vital role trusted news media journalism plays in our democratic society - and the difference that newspapers such as ours play in making lives better in the areas we serve.

At our best, we’re a force for huge good, fighting for people’s rights - giving them a vital voice - and exposing injustices.

Without the investigative work of our chief reporter, Phil Coleman, the world may never have known that Zholia Alemi - a woman who worked as a psychiatrist in north and west Cumbria and was convicted of fraud - was, in fact, a fake.

His findings made headlines all over the world and led to the General Medical Council checking the records of thousands of doctors from other countries practising medicine in the United Kingdom.

When former soldier John Armstrong, of Wigton, was freed from an Indian jail after being wrongly imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, it was The Cumberland News’ Emily Parsons who he shared his story of injustice with, revealing the toll the ordeal had had on him and his family, while also thanking friends and strangers from his home town who tirelessly fought for his freedom.

Thousands of people, meanwhile, rallied behind a campaign for a vital drug to be made available on the NHS after reading the story of three-year-old Ayda Louden, of Carlisle, who suffers from cystic fibrosis and is one of many patients across the UK whose lives could be changed by Orkambi - a licensed drug that is deemed too expensive for NHS funding.

The drug’s manufacturer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and the Department of Health were at an impasse but have agreed to resume talks in a bid to reach a deal - with public and political pressure a key factor in getting key players to agree to sit around the negotiating table.

Our reporter, Jenny Brown, has been praised for the way in which she powerfully and sensitively told the story of Ayda and her family.

Against continuous threats to freedom of speech and well-documented challenges facing the media industry, people should have the confidence to trust us to tell their stories - telling them well - and to tackle and campaign on issues that can make a difference to their lives.

We strive to be a vibrant organ for debate and provide platforms for sharing views.

I occasionally hear people accuse us of running fake news, but I can assure you that there is nothing fake about what you will read in this newspaper or on our website.

Yes, sometimes we will make mistakes, whether in fact, errors of judgment or clumsy wording. We work hard not to, but these are, unfortunately, follies of human nature. But we categorically do not deliberately push unbalanced propaganda or lies. When people don’t agree with another person’s opinion it doesn’t make it fake. Presenting both sides of a debate is part of what makes us trusted.

When we make mistakes, we apologise. For what makes us stand out from the crowd in the noisy media landscape, is that we’re accountable and truly answerable to our readers; our journalists work and live in your community. We’re part of each others’ lives.

This is your newspaper and we’re here for you: Local, accountable - trusted.

Journalists from The Cumberland News are in the running for top accolades at the Regional Press Awards, organised by the Society of Editors and being held in central London today.

Chief reporter Phil Coleman is shortlisted in the news reporter of the year and scoop of the year categories, following his exposé of Zholia Alemi.

Jon Colman, meanwhile, is among those in the running for weekly sports reporter of the year for his highly-regarded coverage of Carlisle United, and Stuart Walker is a contender for the weekly photographer of the year prize.

The Cumberland News is shortlisted for the weekly newspaper of the year title.

Our sister title, the News & Star, is vying for the daily newspaper of the year crown, while its NHS 70 campaign - which celebrated 70 years of the NHS - has been one of the contenders in a people’s vote throughout this week to name the country’s best regional newspaper campaign.