There are as many reasons to read a daily newspaper as there are readers.

Some are looking to see how their favorite high school sports team is doing.

Others want to know what’s happening in their local schools.

Many are looking to learn more about the people and events that shape their cities, villages townships and counties.

Some are interested in crossword puzzles and word games.

And yes, some always will turn to the obituaries first.

Some are looking to learn more about events happening at area churches and with local clubs and organizations.

Some enjoy reading feature stories about their friends and neighbors.

Opinion pieces are important to some readers — and that includes those who look for letters to the editor and local columns.

Some want to know what members of their city or village councils, township trustees or county commissioners are doing and how their decisions will affect their lives.

And when elections roll around, many want to know more abut the candidates for office and the tax, levy and other issues that will appear on their ballots, as well as information about how to register to vote, when early voting in their state begins and when polls will be open on Election Day.

While each individual has his or her own reasons for reading, they all have one thing in common — they are interested in the things that are happening around their community and the surrounding region.

All of that is important to remember as we begin National Newspaper Week. Marking its 85th celebration, the annual event, which opens Sunday, is sponsored by the Newspaper Association Managers to promote the newspaper industry in the United States and Canada.

Much has changed since the week was first commemorated in 1940. For starters, the term newspaper has been expanded. It no longer applies to just the printed edition — it also stands for the websites, e-editions, social media posts, e-mail alerts and daily and weekly newsletters.

That technology has changed the way information is presented, but nobody does it better than newspapers.

Local journalism matters, according to Carolyn Nolte, president and CEO of the Florida Press Association and this year’s chair of National Newspaper Week. Local newspapers continue to inform citizens, seek accountability, foster a deep connection with their community and support economic development.

The theme of the week is Embracing Local Journalism for a Better Future. That’s exactly what we do at the Herald-Star. We’re known in the business as a community newspaper, and our reporting delivers news that’s important to you — a mission we have been fulfilling since June 7, 1806. We’ve reported countless stories in the last 220 years or so — stories that offered insights into your friends and neighbors, stories that have made readers think and stories that have helped hold local and regional government officials accountable.

It’s all possible because of the dedicated men and women who work each day to keep our readers informed and who are committed to keeping our communities strong — and the continued support of each of our readers, whether you access our work through your phone, tablet, desktop computer or the good, old-fashioned printed page.