Alistair Bushe, Editor Dear reader,
If April and May were two of the toughest months that many people have lived through, as we struggled to adjust to lockdown, June offered us much more hope for the future.
The month just past saw a gradual lifting of the coronavirus restrictions, not only in Northern Ireland, but across the border in the Republic, and in the rest of the UK. There was also the promise of a further return to normality during July with a series of further relaxations planned, including the reopening of bars and restaurants, and competitive sport resuming.
The month of June also saw the number of deaths related to Covid-19 slow considerably in Northern Ireland. Newly diagnosed cases have also slowed substantially, so there is plenty of reason for optimism, even if the continued spikes in cases in certain parts of the globe reminds us that this battle is far from over.
Unfortunately, June was also a month of tragedy, most notably in the case of 14-year-old Noah Donohoe from Belfast. The schoolboy went missing on Sunday, June 21, and his body was eventually found almost a week later in the north of the city.
It was a tragedy that has sparked real emotion in people right across the community who were willing for Noah to be found alive. After his death was sadly confirmed at the weekend, people have rallied to offer support for his family, most notably in the form of candlelit vigils and in a fundraising effort to pay for his funeral that comfortably surpassed targets.
Farming is part of the DNA of the News Letter and we were particularly sad to report on the news that David Crockett, a very familiar face in the farming community here, died following an accident on a farm close to the border.
The month also saw a worldwide reaction to the shocking death of George Floyd in America. There have been protests across the world, including in Northern Ireland, with the Black Lives Matter movement coming increasingly to the fore. The issue of racism needs to be tackled once and for all.
Racism is also an issue in Northern Ireland and we recently reported on the views of black people who grew up in Northern Ireland who spoke about the experiences they have had.
As I wrote in my previous monthly notes, lockdown has brought many challenges for our business in terms of newspaper sales and advertising revenues, but we have seen more and more readers come back to the fore as restrictions were relaxed.
We have created a number of new platforms for readers throughout the week, more information on which can be found here.
As the lockdown has been lifted, people are getting out and about more, but we understand that many remain reticent. It is also a difficult time for our advertisers who have seen their own businesses take a major hit. We wish them well as they move steadily along the path of recovery.
We hope and pray that the path back to normality continues in the weeks and months ahead.
If you have any questions or issues in relation to our content or subscriptions, don't hesitate to contact me on alistair.bushe@newsletter.co.uk.
Once again, many thanks for your continuing support.
Stay safe,
Alistair Bushe,
Editor
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