Every old Echonetdaily is renewed again – the face of our online presence has had a lift as we step into 2021. With over 1.2 million unique visitors every year, and scores of unique new stories each week, the Echo site is a busy one, attracting interest from not only the local region and Australia, but from all over the world.
August 26, 2013 was the last time we had an update and the seven year itch saw us enlist the expert help of Echo electron wrangler Ewan Willis, to give the site a brush and floss.
Apart from the technical upgrade, Willis says the look and feel is fresher.
‘There are more navigation elements, with things like trending and featured stories’, he says.
‘It’s a platform change that makes it easier to do new things in terms of layout, and there will be much more variety in the site.’
Willis said that it’s always a challenge to do an upgrade on an already healthy and happy site with thousands of daily users, but it’s important to keep up-to-date with the technology and aesthetics. ‘I’ve lost track of how long it took – it’s all a delicious blur but it’s up and live. There is still a lot of work to be done, but so far, it’s great!’
Echonetdaily editor Aslan Shand said it’s been a long time coming.
‘What a journey – we have finally got the new-look online Echo up and running. But don’t worry – while it may look very modern it will still be that irreverent, challenging, voice of the people it has always been.
‘Viva la revolution!’
Readers are invited to give feedback about the new look in the comments.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
