As one of the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald's valued subscribers we gave you the opportunity to ask the editor anything you like - and now we've answered your questions.

We asked our subscribers to send us their burning questions about anything from a local issue, our news coverage, or how we make decisions, and now we've compiled them into a list that the editor Gillian Murphy has answered.

Where can I read news stories from past editions of the newspaper? 

This is a common query. Our archives are available to view on microfiche in the local library or heritage centre. Our extensive newspaper archives are not available digitally, but many more recent stories will have been published online and you can read them on our website.

But to find or research stories from many years ago, contact your local library or heritage centre to find out details of how to view the newspaper archives as well as facility opening times. I'd suggest narrowing down the date of what you're looking for, to save you scrolling through microfiche or flicking through many pages. 

Do you try to be ‘neutral’, or do/will you, as a local paper, help fight for local issues?

Our objective is always to report news in a fair, accurate and balanced way. When an individual or organisation is criticised for a decision or action, we give them what's known as a right to reply, and we report their comments and sentiments fully.

It is also important for the newspaper to have a voice, where appropriate, and we look to campaign against injustices or on issues that are of great importance to the local community. In addition, we are not in any way politically affiliated and we work to serve and inform local readers. 

How many of the reporting staff are local?

Our editorial team consists of reporters who live locally on their reporting patch and those from further across the west of Scotland, but we're all within reasonable commuting distance of the communities we work in.

Each reporter, regardless of where they are from, makes a great effort to embed themselves in the local community, by building a network of contacts, cultivating working relationships with members of the community and attending meeting and events.

We are all committed to providing the best possible coverage of local news and issues.

Are news reports and articles proof-read by sub-editors or other staff prior to being published on the website?

Our editorial newsrooms consist of an editor and deputy editor, chief reporters, senior reports, and trainee reporters as well as sub editors and production staff. Our news articles are proof read and subbed prior to publication online and in the newspaper.

Our title is evolving and that's great news for subscribers like you.

Being the editor used to just mean deciding what we would tell readers in print, but now journalism can and should be a two-way conversation.

We want you to be involved in everything we do. We want to work with you to best serve our local community to give you the news you want to read and the service you deserve.