Happy New Year readers, and with that we thank you for your readership, your time and most importantly your interest.

In spite of the obstacles, it has been a wonderful journey for us, one that will be remembered as defining year in the history of this humble publication.

We have been burnt, literally, survived it, bravely and continued to do so, beautifully.

Thank God! Otherwise many would have been left jobless, and the Samoan media would have been left with one less deliverer of news.

But with tremendous support, the will to carry on and a great number of talented individuals, Newsline carried on.

With two issues a week, we need just one more to recapture our tri-weekly status we had before the fire, but that will come in time.

As Editor, I applaud you for your continued commitment to Newsline, for reading what our team has produced throughout the last year.

Yes we falter here and there, but we are human, and your understanding is truly appreciated.

After the fire, the Newsline Phoenix editions signified a transition period which eventually returned to our regular editions on Wednesday and Sunday.

Since then Newsline has only moved forward.

Currently Newsline has a content sharing partnership with the New Zealand Herald and in the coming year with Radio Australia.

Newsline is also an news agent for Pacific Island News, a version of associated press in the Pacific region.

The launch of our website www.newslinesamoa.com, or www.samoalivenews.com was monumental step not just in the journey of Newsline, but also in the transformation of the Samoan media.

For the first time a news website operated out of Samoa is updated on a regular basis as the news breaks, but perhaps most significant is the integration of audio streaming and video along with the news.

This is the first of its type in Samoa, and Newsline would like to acknowledge Alex Vaai for his wonderful work with his team at SamoaLive for committing their talents in technology towards the creation of SamoaLiveNewsLine, a unique online news provider from Samoa.

Of course Newsline will continue to provide news for you, as best as we can, but most importantly the coming year will see a more in deapth look at issues and business in Samoa.

The restaurant review will return so as a review of telecommunications and businesses, to assist the improvement of services in Samoa.

The media plays a very important role in any society and responsible media can make a great difference, regardless of where, why and how.

We hope, in our own way we did make a difference, if it was only to one life that is enough to say that we have.

It is in the anticipation of progress that impartiality in journalism can be compromised.

Journalism is a profession that is tough, which requires people with tough skins who can withstand public lash back and misunderstanding, so for that I personally congratulate our new team of journos this year for withstanding all that and more.

Due acknowledgement also goes to AusAID, for the Australian Leadership Award which granted me a six week fellowship in Australia as Editor of Newsline.

Gratitude is also owed to the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China for the invitation to be part of the Pacific Press Delegation to China, this year.

Both were tremendous experiences which will only serve to improve the quality of Newsline in the coming year, through the skills and knowledge obtained.

To you, I would like to say that we value your opinion, for it is only in your readership that we provide material, it is only in your interest in current affairs that gives us a product to offer, it is only in your commitment to news that keeps us going, so for that, faafetai tele lava.

But before we call it a year, we here at Newsline would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Thank you for sharing the journey with us, and we look forward to continuing this next year.

Manuia le Kerisimase ma le Tausaga Fou.

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