An independent weekly has touted appointing an external body to “keep an eye” on the newspaper after celebrating the publication of its 2,000th edition.

The Camden New Journal has celebrated the milestone after 38 years in business.

Upon its foundation, the New Journal was registered as a company limited by guarantee – recognised as a type of non-profit organisation.

But editor Eric Gordon says the company is now looking at the option of further external involvement.

He explained the idea in an editorial in the 2,000th edition, pictured above.

Eric wrote: “It may be thought that the present economic system needs to be radically reformed if it is to survive – and we need to do something similar.

“We are exploring the idea that, apart from the internal procedures at the newspaper, there should be an outside body of ‘trustees’, representing the community, which would act as a kind of ‘parental’ body aimed at keeping an eye, as it were, on the newspaper to ensure that it followed, as a faithfully as possible, the aims and principles that led to its birth in 1982.

“It’s a radical step, still to be tested.

“It would mean that the community, as a whole, would play a part in the life of the newspaper, in a way it has never done before – it would not, and should not, infringe on the basics of press freedom, but simply have a voice to make sure we remain independent and adherents to the principles of those idealists so long ago.”