Island Echo is the Isle of Wight’s only truly independent, 24-hour news outlet, keeping Islanders informed and on the move around the clock with the latest breaking news, general news and community information as it happens.
Island Echo was founded in May 2012 and was originally based in Wootton. Following a successful 3-month BETA test to show the format worked and was of interest to Islanders, the Echo relaunched via social media only in October 2012 – the start of the strong social following we have today.
The website relaunched early in 2013 and took the Island by storm and now, all these years later, Island Echo is the leading news website for the Isle of Wight with an ever-growing readership. Google considers us to be Number 1 for ‘Isle of Wight news’.
In December 2014, the website underwent a complete makeover – the first major update since the original site launch back in May 2012. Subsequently, a new website was revealed in October 2016 as the business continued to adapt to the ever-evolving world of technology, with another change in design following in February 2018.
6 years on and the newest version of Island Echo has now been released, adapting to design trends and the needs of both our readers and advertisers.
In October 2019, Island Echo was named Micro Business of the Year at the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2019. In June 2020, Island Echo was highly commended for the ICNN Community News Website of the Year at the newsawards 2020, sponsored by Google News Initiative. In November 2021, Island Echo went on to clinch the title to be named ICNN Community Website of the Year.
Island Echo is published and owned by Island Echo Ltd – a registered company in England and Wales.
The Team
• Darren Toogood – Editor/Publisher ([email protected] / 01983 898288)
• Carl Atkinson-Goffe – Commercial Manager ([email protected])
• Sophie Toogood – Accounts ([email protected]) / 01983 898288
• James Rann – Digital News Reporter ([email protected])
• Warren Whitmore – Sport and Community Reporter ([email protected])
Regular Contributors
• Rufus Pickles – Local Democracy Reporter (Isle of Wight)
• Alan and Suzanne Whitewood MBE
