Canterbury’s paper of record since 1717, the Kentish Gazette, is used to its fair share of criticism.

Some of that criticism is deserved but Unified’s article headlined Kentish Gazette Get Personal: Lies, Lies, Lies simply got it wrong.

It accused our coverage about the return of the Cathedral city’s students of being fabricated, slanderous and fictitious. It was not.

It criticised us for not acknowledging the role students play in boosting the economy or recognising the contribution they make to the voluntary sector. We covered both aspects - on the front page and inside the very newspaper complained about.

At the Gazette, we pride ourselves in trying to present both sides of the story and then letting our readers decide.

People certainly did criticise the student population in our piece but this was balanced with supportive comments from a proactive Kent Union, the city council, businesses whose tills benefit and letters in subsequent editions supporting the student cause.

The challenge for students, Christ Church Students’ Union and the university’s PR department is to engage with my readers to promote the undoubted good that comes from having 40,000 students in the city.

Tell us about your achievements and stories, talk up the benefits you all bring to the district and use our website and Opinion pages to make your point to the sceptics and decision-makers alike.

Log on to www.kentishgazette.co.uk , email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk or write to the Editor, Kentish Gazette, 5-8 Boorman Way , Estuary View Business Park , Whitstable , Kent CT5 3SE .

Popularity: 6% [?]