A weekly newspaper has vowed it will “always be completely free to read” after reviving an appeal for reader donations.

The Camden New Journal has made the pledge after renewing a plea for one-off contributions to help fund its journalism.

The New Journal issued an initial appeal last year as it marked 40 years in business.

Now, the paper has revived the birthday fundraising drive, warning the “dramatic escalating cost of ink alone is in itself a threat” to print titles across the country.

In an editorial about the appeal, the CNJ said: “In this punishing climate, we ask readers – on our birthday, which comes around this week – to consider a one-off financial donation to help preserve the newspaper’s future.

“We will not bombard you with requests for contributions, and we do not want anybody who does not have the means to try and take part.

“The paper will always be completely free to read. Rest assured too that the New Journal’s structure means we do not have shareholders to please with dividends or executive staff on wealthy pay packets to cover – so every single penny goes back into meeting the weekly costs of producing a good local paper for Camden.

“We, after all, are now one of the few remaining titles which has not descended into a clickbait web output using only the quickest ways to gather content. Journalists are still out working on the patch every day.

“Of course, readers often have robust and constructive feedback for us and it would be unhealthy if everybody agreed with every word in each edition.

“But the CNJ retains a key role in a functioning local democracy, and once local papers are gone, they are usually gone for good, or replaced with lightweight alternatives.

“We know that there are currently so many important causes which readers will be supporting and in that regard any contribution that can be made will be even more gratefully received.”