As The Independent continues its 30th year in publication, I want to take a moment to reflect on a major changing of the guard in our editorial team—and to offer a heartfelt thank-you.
James McFadden came on board as our editor in February of 2020—yes, just a month before COVID-19 turned the world upside down. Talk about trial by fire. Over the last five years, James has guided us through an incredibly turbulent chapter in the news industry, and in life. Through pandemic panic, economic uncertainty, distribution shakeups, and staff changes, James remained steady. His consistency, dedication, and keen editorial eye helped us weather the storm—and start growing again. He’s been a true partner, and he will be missed. Thank you, James.
Now, I’m thrilled to welcome our new editor, Elizabeth “Elie” Gunter. I’ve known Elie for many years—she’s been a vital part of several web projects with us over the last eight years. When I started looking for a new editor, I couldn’t quite find the right fit. Then, out of the blue, Elie popped into my head. I picked up the phone, gave her a call, and asked if she’d be interested. By the next day, she said yes.
Not a moment too soon, either—James was ready to move on and juggling a full plate of new commitments. Elie’s first week wasn’t exactly smooth sailing (our website went down for three days while we were trying to get our email systems working—thanks for nothing, Bluehost), but she took it in stride. Since then, she’s been knocking it out of the park with fresh, thoughtful, and compelling content.
As Elie settles in and takes the reins, you’ll start to notice subtle but meaningful changes in our formatting, tone, and content mix. I’m excited for what’s ahead—and proud to have her on board.
Here’s to James for all he’s done—and to Elie for all that’s to come. Thank you both.
