The broadcaster and writer Edward Stourton explains why he agreed to lead a fundraising campaign that is bringing The Tablet to a new audience

The Tablet is a kind of miracle. It is as vigorous and loved as ever – despite all the changing tastes and social trends that could have silenced it. Everyone associated with it has reason to be proud.
It has a religious mission in a secular age. It has been a steadfast champion of the Second Vatican Council – even when the values of the council have been under siege. It is resolutely thoughtful when so much journalism is brutal and simplistic. And its outlook is unapologetically global, defying parochialism and populism.

Many cradle Catholics remember it as a constant presence in childhood homes; today its distinctive voice is heard well beyond the Church, and many of those who value it are non-Catholics. It is admired for its insight, its originality, its sense of mission and the quality of its writing.