The Island Echo team is celebrating this month having reached a new milestone of 50,000 articles published.
It was on 19th May 2012 that our incredible story began when Island Echo went live for the very first time. In the 12-and-a-half years that have followed, our team of journalists have produced an incredible 50,000 news stories – that’s an average of 11 articles published each and every day.
It’s only 18 months since the 40,000 article milestone was hit, demonstrating an increased output in modern times with a whopping 6,000 stories a year now published. All 50,000 articles remain online and available to read, free of charge.
Over the years Island Echo has broken huge international news stories and has published a whole array of exclusive pieces, whilst not shying away from covering some of the more sensitive and sometimes controversial subjects.
Readers who have been with us for several years will remember some of those stories, such as a missing 6ft python on the loose in Ryde back in April 2013, and the viral story of motorists parking on graves in Ventnor in the same month.
In January 2014 we reported that Premier Inn was to build a brand new hotel in Lake, followed by the news that the hotel chain had bought the Carlton Hotel in Sandown the following year. Island Echo also revealed in 2014 that Aldi was to open a store in Lake.
Breaking news is a staple of Island Echo’s output with some important stories covered, such as a major fire at HMP Isle of Wight in February 2015, the loss of the Island’s Roads Policing Unit in February 2016 and the charging of the now-leader of the Isle of Wight Council with drink driving in December 2016. Fast forward to 2019 and it was reported that CCTV operators were to stop watching the Island’s camera network.
Island Echo was the first to break the news that the Hoegh Osaka had gone aground at Bramble Bank in January 2015 and, during COVID times, the introduction of extra body storage containers in April 2020. The historic landing of a UAV on the Island was reported the following month.
Last December, Island Echo was the first to reveal the extent of the major landslide at Leeson Road in Ventnor.
Darren Toogood, Editor/Publisher of Island Echo, says:
“For the past 12-and-a-half years we have been keeping Islanders informed with the very latest Isle of Wight news, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“It’s not been an easy ride but I think it’s safe to say that 50,000 articles on from our first story, we’ve cemented our position as the go-to source for Island news and lead the way”.
Congratulations, here’s to the next
50,000
Congratulations to you all ,I really enjoy reading the Echo in Queensland ,Australia
Have a very Happy Christmas Islanders
Well done. Fabulous news and interesting and well informed articles.