SPEAKING 'truth to power' is possibly the most important job of a local newspaper.

This can range from holding authorities to account for serious failings, like the early attitudes of police and social workers to girls being sexually abused in Oxford, to making sure councils continue to pick up your bins every week.

It is also about making sure taxpayers' money is well spent.

As part of this, the Oxford Mail attends public meetings in venues such as Town Hall and County Hall to cover meetings and briefings to keep you informed about how resources are being used in Oxfordshire.

This means we often have to ask politicians tough questions about the decisions they make, or make public disagreements between Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron and council bosses.

But Rodney Rose, deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said there were, generally, no hard feelings.

He said "I think the Oxford Mail tries to give balanced reports on what is happening on a daily basis and that is an important function of local democracy.

"It also helps get important things out there from the council that people need to know, like road closures.

"Sometimes it has a go at us too, although I think we probably deserved it in most cases.

"I always try to respond to queries because the only way to get your explanations out there is to talk."

An important tool that helps reporters at the Oxford Mail keep tabs on local authorities is the Freedom of Information Act (FoI).

This allow us, like any member of the public, to lodge requests with authorities that they must answer legally within 21 days.

As we reported on Monday, our campaign to save the FoI act has been nominated for a national award, along with campaigns to raise money for Age UK at Christmas and a bid to get defibrillators installed in public places across the county.

The public can vote for our campaigns at the website for the Making A Difference award, at: localnewspaperweek.co.uk

The Very Rev Bob Wilkes, Oxford's City Rector, said the Oxford Mail was vital to covering the three "important areas" of local government, charitable organisations and the faith community.

He said: "In any other paper you can read about what national government is doing, but it's only the local paper that covers what is happening here.

"The Oxford Mail also does a very good job of highlighting the work of the local charitable sector, and tells good stories about what the faith community here does.

"We are a positive bunch of people, but sometimes that image does not come across in other parts of the media.

"Local papers are a way we can all hear each other's stories and discuss things together."

Archdeacon of Oxford Martin Gorick added: "It is a space for genuinely local stories that are sometimes really interesting tales of human interest and the Oxford Mail is good at picking those up.

"You need that in a community, because there is an awful lot going on in Oxford."

And Banbury MP Victoria Prentis revealed she is a voracious reader of the local press.

She said she regularly reads the Oxford Mail and its sister titles the Banbury Cake and Bicester Advertiser.

Mrs Prentis added: "I think local newspapers are really important, and the best ones share information with our communities that are of interest, of concern, or of celebration.

"Newspapers are very good at raising the profile of particular issues.

"The Making a Difference showcase, part of Local Newspaper Week, aims to acknowledge successful campaigns run by local papers.

"I have seen many campaigns in the press locally, and wanted to congratulate the Oxford Mail being acknowledged for three excellent campaigns – more than any other newspaper."