Letter from the editor

Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed a small change on page two this week, where a new name has been added under Editor. I began my role with the Press and Journal on Monday.

It is a privilege to be here. To be a custodian of Scotland’s oldest daily newspaper and one of the most trusted news brands anywhere in the world.

It’s also a very strange time to be starting a new job.

The entire team of more than 80 P&J journalists are working from home.

All of our offices including Inverness, Elgin, Aberdeen, Holyrood and Westminster are closed.

But we are still covering the broad diet of local news and sport and attempting to put the lockdown and coronavirus pandemic into context for readers here.

I have met many of my new colleagues this week, although only as a face over a computer screen. No handshakes or coffees together.

But even through this medium, I have been overwhelmed by their dedication to the task, their relentless drive to explain the news, and their desire to bring the latest information to you.

Like many of you, some of the P&J journalists are looking after young children, or home schooling at the same time. Some are living alone or without a garden. Others are in shared accommodation which brings its own stresses.

On our video news conferences we’ve had family pets join to bark their approval at certain stories and pre-school children gurgle as we discuss front page picture options.

But rather than being a distraction, they have proved a delight.

As a society we will definitely be poorer and more fragile as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic. But perhaps we will also be happier, more connected and more thankful.

The Thursday evening Clap for Carers, for example, has become as much about community engagement as about saying thank you to our wonderful frontline workers.

Part of feeling connected to your community is having access to your trusted local newspaper. For news, sport, features or other information. Or just for the puzzles.

The Press and Journal knows that many of you were unable to access your regular copy due to lockdown. In some cases newsagents closed; others had to remain in isolation.

That is why we allowed free access to our E-paper edition, which provides an electronic copy of the physical newspaper.

There are seven days left to access a free threemonth trial. If you can’t get to the shops, or if you know someone who can’t, this is a great solution.

This is one way we are sticking with you.

Thank you to everyone who has given me a warm welcome in my first week.

And thanks to all of you for sticking with us.