A New Year and a new start at the EK News

Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of the East Kilbride News.

I write this section in my new role as editor of the paper and wish to thank my predecessor, Colin, for his hard work and wish him well in his new position.

I also write this in full agreement with Colin’s parting comments – “there is no paper without you”.

I fully subscribe to the mantra that local newspapers exist to serve their readers. That means telling your stories, keeping you in the loop with your ‘need to knows,’ and interacting with you to get to the heart of what’s important in our communities.

However, in the constantly changing face of the newspaper industry, this is an ever-increasing challenge, especially when we are based outwith the town. However, that is something I wish to change where possible and you will see an increased presence of the EK News team in your areas over the coming weeks, months and hopefully years.

One way I hope to do this is with the introduction of a ‘meet the editor’ surgery, where myself and a member of staff will base ourselves in a town centre cafe for a few hours on a Wednesday morning. Please use this as an opportunity to come and quiz us on things within the paper, and tell us what is happening in your area, or the things that matter to you.

There are a number of ways I wish to reduce the gap between us here in the office and the communities in which we serve, and I look forward to having you along as part of that journey.