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Recent decades have seen the local Gibraltarian population
progress substantially politically, culturally and socially.
As the post colonial era took root - and with all the
complexity of our most covered story 'THE ROW
WITH SPAIN' - Britain, under pressure from Gibraltarians,
gradually released control of the Rock's internal affairs
to its rightful incumbents.
A quick perusal of our bound editions shows that the
post World War II era was the most significant for both
the people and the newspaper. Once evacuated families
began to return to the Rock the imbalance showed. There
was much more news on the street than the newspaper
reflected in its pages.
As political parties formed and fought for basic
civil rights, local journalists in their weekly
editions took on the establishment. Eventually the Chronicle,then
the establishment newspaper and the only daily,
began to respond too.
The 1960's onwards begin to reflect local affairs
with some detail and the dramatic events of 1969 - Gibraltar's
new Constitution and the closing of the frontier
by Spain - finally mark the moment when the political
evolution is matched by commercial evolution. At last
the newspaper has a deep and lasting relationship with
its reader.
Some ten years ago all final links with the Gibraltar
Garrison Library Trust were severed and the newspaper
today belongs to an independent profit seeking
trust.
Its content and control are guarded by a Charter.
Its role is to inform and promote debate and, within
the limitations of a small circulation, it plays a unique
role as a hybrid between a national newspaper and a
community newspaper.
Unlike Charles
Bouisson, the first editor, the Chronicle
today does not seek to reports the military triumphs
of the empire but rather to reflect the evolving vibrancy
of the Gibraltarian community as moves towards closing
the last chapter of those imperial and colonial days
of old with good, open and accessible debate.
The Gibraltar Chronicle is an institution,
but a live one. It talks to and listens to all sides,
but the local community including the minorities living
here, are at its heart.
Today's editorial team is Paco Oliva, News Editor,
Alice Mascarenhas, Features Editor, the recently
recruited Jonathan Sacramento, and photographer
Orlando Charvetto. This is supported by PA News,
our own contributors as well as our own pre-press and
printing works.
It is a great privilege to be the Editor at this time.
Dominique Searle
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