About The Valley Echo

The Valley Echo is your online source for community news in the Swannanoa Valley. The website is a modern medium for traditional news, with a hyperlocal focus on Black Mountain, Swannanoa, Montreat, Ridgecrest, Broad River and neighboring areas. 

The Valley Echo fills a vital role in connecting the community, informing readers on matters that directly impact their daily lives and documenting the history, heritage and culture of the region it serves. The platform encourages economic growth by allowing area businesses to advertise goods and services to a local audience. 

We provide watchdog reporting on local government and other institutions of power that influence and enforce the policies that help shape the future of the community, while giving a voice to the community. 

The Valley Echo strives to preserve the unique identity and culture of the Swannanoa Valley by telling the stories of its people through in-depth features that profile local residents and their notable contributions in the community and beyond. It shines a spotlight on the creative minds in the community, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the area’s vibrant and eclectic art scene.

The digital media platform delivers comprehensive coverage of the diverse business community, with a focus on nonprofit organizations, small businesses and corporations that are vital to economic development in the region. 

Our sports content focuses on in-depth coverage high school and college athletics in the Swannanoa Valley, and features stories and photos highlighting a wide array of athletic events and accomplishments throughout the community. 

The Valley Echo is committed to factual, unbiased local journalism, which is crucial to a healthy community.

About the Editor

The Valley Echo is produced by Fred McCormick, a Black Mountain resident since 2007. He lives in the Swannanoa Valley with his wife and daughter and has covered the community since 2014. 

Fred founded The Valley Echo to preserve true local journalism that serves the community by informing and connecting readers. His experience as a journalist, editor and photographer in the Swannanoa Valley has given him a unique perspective of his hometown, and the people who live and do business there. 

Fred tells stories that touch the lives of local residents, using the voices of the people in the community. He is a regular presence throughout the Swannanoa Valley, where he writes about local government, high school and college athletics, the history of the region, its thriving business community and a wide range of events that showcase the region’s distinct culture. 

Fred applies professional journalistic standards and ethics to his coverage of the community and takes pride in reporting news that is factual and unbiased.