YOUR Harlow has just published its 40,000th story.

We would like to thank everyone who has helped us to get to that remarkable landmark.

Your Harlow was started in 2012 after we won a competition (and start-up grant) from the Carnegie Trust called Neighbourhood News.

The competition simply asked: “Do you know an area that doesn’t have enough news?

As we had noticed the Harlow Herald had just closed, leaving just one newspaper (Harlow Star) for the area, we simply felt we could add to the news in Harlow.

We were already running Your Thurrock (set 2008) but felt, as we were based in Harlow, that this was the time to start Your Harlow.

We also believed that the news in Harlow could be greatly enhanced with filmed news as well.

Our YouTube channel is approaching 4,000 films

In case you wondered, the stories in the first week included: Knife-wielding cyclists (no change there then!); Jethro at the Playhouse; Parndon Mill Open Day, Council pledge to improve roads (don’t..we know); will Harlow Council still be here in five times and so on………..

40,000 stories later. We are the news in Harlow.

For news is the key word. News is central to what newspapers should do.

Yes, you celebrate, embrace and adapt to new platforms, new technologies but at its heart and what is at the very heart of what we do is news.

That is news published by a trained professional with decades of experience; a proud member of trade bodies (I am a member of the advisory board at ICNN) and a founder member of press regulator Impress.

Yes, Your Harlow is one journalist. As we say, some days, we want people to think we are The Washington Post and other days, usually when the heat is on we just want to shout: “I’m just one journalist in office in the woods!” Nice try but you cant have it both ways.

We have had many highs. On a personal and professional level: A guest of King Charles at a reception for local media hosted by the King in March. We have also been to No 10 Downing Street as a guest of PM Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.

We were also the subject of a report on the BBC One Show called “Last Journalist in Town”

Our editor was also described in the House of Commons by Robert Halfon as “the man who saved the news in Harlow.

When you are the son a farmer’s daughter from County Clare, that means an awful lot.

Of course, I could not have done this without my wife Sally, who,, as everyone knows is a living saint, who does everything, allowing me to sit upstairs and “tippy tap”

But the 40,000 stories would not be possible without the people of Harlow.

This is a unique relationship/partnership/bond between one journalist and a 100,000 people. Even as I write, the press release from Crosskeys Netball, Harlow Pride and Harlow Playhouse to name a few.

Sometimes those highs are stories which don’t get published. Sometimes, we pick up the phone to a person in power and try and broker, ease a path, open a dialogue.

And there are many frustrations. Being a team of one there are many issues that we cannot cover in depth. Sometimes, you ask: “Am I a reporter or a stenographer?”

Sometimes, you get things wrong or at best, the tone wrong. The running community for example. We would do well to remember the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is to not put it in a fruit salad.

Some readers have been frustrated by the programmatic ads, esp. on our mobile site. It pays the bills folks but we understand.

Our mission statement is and remains: 1847, 1947, 2047.

1847: Harlow is a village in Essex

1947: New Towns Act

2047: Harlow may well have a population of 160,000 and be a city.

Whatever the size we want to ensure there is a school at Gilden Park, a GP surgery in Latton Priory, a 21st century hospital and our residents are protected.

Of course, this editor will be 86 in 2047. However, Sir Paul McCartney is still touring in his eighties and Sir Ridley Scott is still directing films, so I guess I can still attend Harlow Council meetings.

Because, Your Harlow is run by a son of Harlow, who received a first class education at St Mark’s which enabled him to go the university and study History and Politics. I can never give back enough.

In 2025, journalism is not in a healthy state. Hundreds are being made redundant. As you know, we began the century with three newsrooms in Harlow and now there is just us.

We are involved in a lot of national campaigns to support journalism. The campaign to make public notices (roads, licensed premises etc) cheaper for businesses. The battle for government support for local news. The story we published on Friday regarding Google helps Your Harlow get a set at the table with Google.

Because, although it is nice to be a receptions at Buckingham Palace, Downing Street and the House of Commons, it is all about getting Harlow in the room.

We would like to thank our advertisers and sponsors. Without you, there would be no YourHarlow.

Especially, the Carnegie Trust, who backed us in the first place.

In many ways, this editor writes for his grandchildren, to campaign for a successful Harlow that they can thrive in.

But we also run Your Harlow because we really enjoy it. Yes, it can be really stressful but, it isn’t working down a mine or up a roof.

And so we will stop here and plough our way to 50,000 stories. We should get there by 2028.

Here’s to “tippy-tapping”.

Thank you for looking in.

Michael Casey

Publisher and Editor

Sunday October 12th, 2025