We are here for you no matter what! (From Penarth Times)

We are here for you no matter what!

The Penarth Times and sister paper The Barry and District News are celebrating their success in the community by taking part in the Local Newspaper Week, starting this Monday.

Bringing you all the local news and sporting action, we are proud to be a part of the most trusted form of media - the regional press.

Read by 40 million adults every week, it was no surprise local news was voted the most popular newspaper topic out of a list of 27, which included UK or British news, European news and sport.

It is not that we work harder than the national press, or have greater skills than journalists employed in other forms of media.

But the news in your local papers is written by journalists who live in the communities we serve. We are more sensitive to the needs of those communities and we inspire a greater trust from our readers.

It could be because we know we can be held accountable for what we write by the people we live with. But it could also be that we care about the people we write about - you are our neighbours.

The Barry and District News and the Penarth Times have both been established in the Vale of Glamorgan for more than 100 years. We have been through the highs and the lows of Barry and Penarth.

We bring you objective coverage of the major issues - from the Town Hall and Central Park in Barry to the Glebe Street pedestrianisation and the battle to breathe life into Penarth with the Headland Link.

We have also brought you the emotions when lives are cut tragically short, like Ben Greening and Angharad Raworth.

And we have cheered when there are events to celebrate - like the miracle recovery of Barry's coma victim Christopher Richmond, and Penarth's scratch card winner Helen Ford who scooped £500,000.

Come rain or shine, your local paper is there when you need it.

Dee has been with the Barry & District News for 19 years in total. She started as an accounts clerk and has worked her way up to become advertising and office manager. She has a strong background in sales and among her many roles is ensuring the smooth running of both the Barry and Penarth offices.

Jenny joined the sister papers eight years ago, and has a wealth of experience in advertising. She is responsible for looking after local retailers in Barry and the motor dealers across the Vale. Jenny is a consistent winner of awards for her successful sales work.

FIELD SALES REP: Jackie Glassar A relative new-comer to the team, Jackie joined the company just over a year ago. She is responsible for the retailers in Penarth and the estate agents in Barry and Penarth. In the short time she has been with the papers, Jackie has successfully increased the amount of property advertising.

Peter John has worked his way up from reporter to publisher over a period of 30 years. He has a sound knowledge of both regional weeklies and daily papers and oversees a vast number of titles, including the Barry and District News and Penarth Times

Sue Vincent-Jones was brought into the two titles as an injection of young blood. Aiming to make our local papers appeal to a wider readership, Sue was recently promoted. The circulation figures confirm she has vastly improved the content and the appearance of the Barry and District News and Penarth Times.

Jessica Hinton has worked on the sister papers for just over three years. She was recently promoted and now runs the Penarth office as Sue's deputy. Jessica helped manage the two offices last year while Sue was on maternity leave.

Ian Bebb is the newest member of the team. He joined the papers in January and is largely based in the Barry office. Ian is multi- lingual and has previously worked as a translator in Belgium. He is looking forward to establishing roots in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Charles Booth came to the Penarth Times and the Barry and District News around 18 months ago. He spent the majority of his time in the Penarth office, before being transferred to Holton Road just after Christmas. Originally from Derbyshire, Charles speaks fluent Russian.

Jackie Woolford works in the Barry office. Although primarily a typist, Jackie compiles the popular 'What's On' listings in the entertainment section. She also delights many readers, both young and old, with her careful selection of memories from the Penarth Times and Barry and District News of by-gone years.

Kim Morgan works part time in the Penarth office. She is also primarily a typist, but she helps with the functions on the front desk as well. Kim balances a hectic family life with her role in the Penarth Times and Barry and District News and is always efficient, friendly and helpful.

Here are the people to do business with... THE BARRY and District News and Penarth Times have an advertising staff dedicated to keeping the thriving business section healthy and vibrant.

Split across the two regional offices, in Holton Road and Stanwell Road, the team work tirelessly to make sure their clients' goods and services are shown off to their best advantage.

Despite significant changes in media consumption, local business people still turn to their local paper for all their working needs.

More than two-thirds of all businessmen and women in the UK read their regional newspaper.

Whether they are looking for a local supplier, a new job, or they want to advertise their product, a high percentage of the local business community consider their local paper to be the most useful source of information. The highest number of people in the UK chose the regional press as the media they most refer to and find most useful for their general business advertising.

The Barry and District News and Penarth Times are committed to all businesses, from the established department stores with many staff to the young hairdresser starting out on her own. No-one enterprise is valued above any other.

Our advertising department values loyalty while welcoming new customers.

CLASSIFIED TELESALES: Rachel Hopkins Rachel has been with the Barry & District News and Penarth Times for nearly five years. She started in telesales, but has recently been promoted to features co-ordinator. She has successfully developed the classified section of the business, and is currently undertaking an NVQ with the company in sales development.

CLASSIFIED TELESALES: Anne Chick Anne started with the Barry & District News and Penarth Times as a temporary employee in August 2000, but by January 2001 had been taken on full-time. As well as managing her role with classified telesales, Anne helps cover the Penarth office reception desk whenever required.

PENARTH RECEPTION: Joan Marsh. Joan's friendly face has been fronting the Penarth Times office reception for three years. With her rich history as a secretary and in public relations, Joan also offers a strong advertising support, inputs the adverts and manages the office administration. Many customers have come to view her as a friend.

BARRY RECEPTION: Pat Colley and Margaret Phillips. Margaret has been with the Barry & District News since 1988, working alongside Pat Colley since she joined 1990. Pat and Mags cover reception, are responsible for family notices and inputting advertisements. Pat is in charge of health and safety regarding the use of computers, and Margaret is the office administrator. Many customers regard them both as friends.