The Islington Tribune’s hospital-saving battle bus

THIS is a special anniversary for our newspaper – 20 years in print and, this week, our 1,000th edition.

Truth be told, we began life in 2003 at a time when a wider decline in the industry was already starting – a trend which has only accelerated more recently as even some of London’s best-known titles begin to appear as ghosts of their former selves.

We were told that this paper couldn’t work, but we ignored the doubters.

And here we still are, perhaps because the founding editor Eric Gordon and his team brought to the Tribune all of the guiding principles that had served them on the Camden New Journal for years before.

Simply put, that we are not here to make profit for faraway shareholders – we are here for our readers.

We are, then, fiercely independent of the four or five big newspaper companies that now own nearly every local title in the country. We refuse to be a dashed out identikit product. That’s why the Tribune’s reporters can still be found out exploring and meeting residents every week.

Our raison d’etre is simple: to inform, to campaign where necessary, to listen to those struggling to be heard, and, hopefully, to entertain as well.

So over the past two decades we’ve found our stories right here on the borough’s streets.

It’s a fact that Bob The Cat’s story only became a book and movie sensation after his owner, James Bowen, was asked for an interview by our passing reporter Peter Gruner.

There is resolute seriousness to what we do as well, however.

We tackle crime not by trying to scare but by trying to decipher how to stop it recurring.

And we campaign for the good public services our readers need and deserve, challenging those in power where needed.

Twice our battle bus helped save the emergency services at the Whittington Hospital. It is always ready to ride again.

Over the years, you will have seen the ‘bylines’ of many talented journalists who been devoted to their task. Many have gone on to work on national titles.

But behind the scenes there are many more people in production, sales, accounts and distribution whose names do not appear in print but keep our show on the road.

Several have been with us from day one and we are as in debt to them as the reporters seen on the historic front covers spread across these pages.

But we also owe thanks to those who support us by taking advertising – you are supporting strong local journalism in doing so, as well as promoting your venture in the borough’s best read paper.

And, of course, we say thank you to our engaged readers. We would not be here without your warmth and encouragement – and, yes, your constructive feedback too.

On our birthday, we remain as committed as ever to telling your stories.

RICHARD OSLEY
Editor