It’s the dawn of a new day

It is with great excitement and pride that we – Essex Media Group – introduce ourselves as the new owners and publishers of The Daily Item. We purchased The Item out of deep respect for its history, its value to the North Shore, and its role not only as a source of news but also as a gathering place for important community information and conversation.Each of us in EMG has deep roots in this community and, like all residents of the North Shore, we owe five generations of the Gamage family our thanks and appreciation for stewarding a newspaper that has been part of the fabric of our community. We intend to remain part of that fabric, and hope to live up to the legacy of the Gamage family.This is a challenging time for the newspaper industry, but we plan to meet that challenge. We intend to build on the nearly 137-year history of The Item, and improve on it. Gradually, you will see a new Item emerging alongside the old: We will introduce new and exciting sections, an updated website, and a fresh take on local issues – all while maintaining the highest quality standards for political, civic, business, sports and community news on the North Shore.Some of these changes may be permanent, some will not. Some you will like, some you will not. We will make mistakes, but know that every step this newspaper takes will be towards the goal of providing a more informative and higher-quality news product.We are not going to get there without your help, and your patience. We need your input to determine what you – our readers and advertisers – want and expect in a newspaper and its website. As this process evolves, we want to hear from you about how The Item can better serve your needs.Ultimately, our success will be measured by the impact this newspaper has on all of you. We want to be the first and best source for local news; provide an in-depth look at compelling local stories; and better the quality of our civic engagement and political discourse.We want our advertisers to feel confident in the visibility of their product, our neighbors to know their achievements will be recognized, our public officials to feel confident in the fairness of our reporting, and local residents to be better informed about the community.This an exciting time for all of us. We will strive for your confidence, and we thank you for your interest in The Item.