Editorial: the Echo’s changing face

At that time, and in this space, we promised that this vibrant and venerable newspaper would not stand still — indeed never stand still. We promised then that it would continually evolve, change and grow, and that it would do so with this single goal in mind: to meet your demands for a comprehensive, wide-ranging and responsible journal covering Ireland and Irish America. With a significant investment already undertaken, we are pleased today to announce to you that this process is well and truly under way.
You hold in your hands to first of what we hope will be several major improvements that we will be introducing in the months and years to come. The new-look Irish Echo is the fruit of months of honest, and sometimes painful, self-reflection. We understand that a newspaper that is unable or unwilling to evaluate itself — its content, its mission and its goals — will soon be left behind in these changing times. It may be impossible to be all things to all people, but we must look forward.
Today we mark the next chapter in the Echo’s memorable 74-year run with both a redesigned newspaper and website. We have reformatted the paper to be easier to read and to navigate. We have added new features, retained our more popular ones and in general beefed up the content of our news product. Our striking state-of-the-art website, www.irishecho.com, mirrors the contents of the paper but includes a number of new features and boasts an interactive component that promises to keep us in close touch with those readers who prefer to get their news electronically.
Yes, a great deal is happening at the Irish Echo, but rest assured that our core values have not changed. A newspaper, after all, is not just newsprint and ink. It’s not just words and pictures. What it is, is people and community. And it’s a responsibility we have always taken seriously.
The Echo, as an institution has long been part of the fabric of the Irish-American scene since 1928. With your continued support, we look forward to many more fruitful years. We hope you will embrace the changes you find in the new-look Irish Echo and continue to find value in this newspaper. Your aspirations are our aspirations. Your challenges are our challenges. We thank you for your support — past, present and future.