Welcome to The Valley Echo

One million words is just the beginning

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo

As I sat down to write this, one thought kept running through my mind: “one million words.” 

Eager to launch our community news website, The Valley Echo, I was considering the impact of hyperlocal journalism. But, before looking to the future, I thought about the past. 

I’ve been covering the Swannanoa Valley for six years. With 52 weeks in a year, at an average of 3,500 - 4,000 words per week, I have written somewhere in the neighborhood of a million words about this community. 

Collectively, those words have told the stories of Black Mountain, Swannanoa, Montreat, Ridgecrest, Broad River, the North Fork Valley and sometimes neighboring communities like Old Fort, Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, Oteen, Riceville and others. 

That work, I believe, has offered me unique insight into the things that make this place special, and it's hard to convey what an honor it’s been to be entrusted with this vital task. 

Writing about this community has given me the opportunity to sit down and talk to the people who call the Swannanoa Valley home. The topics of those conversations have ranged from tragedy to triumph and everything in between, as I’ve observed and reported the events that impact the daily lives of local residents. 

Being a Black Mountain resident myself, I care deeply about this community. I came here in 2007 and immediately felt connected to it in a way that I still can’t truly understand, but to put it simply, it feels like home. 

My appreciation of the Valley and its people has led to a simple approach to my work: be present in the community, understand its concerns and keep readers informed and connected with accurate and unbiased reporting. I view local journalism as an act of service, and strive to improve in some aspect of the profession each day. 

While the future of print media, in general, is murky, the need for quality local journalism in communities like ours has never been more clear. I believe that an informed community is a connected one, and I know from my conversations with many of you over the years, I am not alone in that belief. 

I will forever be grateful to this community for so many reasons, but two of them in particular stand out. In these mountains I found a true home while discovering my purpose in life. 

As I present The Valley Echo, I envision a resource that serves and promotes the community. A place where you can read stories that give you a deeper understanding of this place and its people; see pictures of community events and voice your opinion on issues that impact the Valley. And, it’s all at your fingertips on your computer, tablet or mobile device. 

Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of this community and I would like to sincerely thank the businesses that are advertising with The Valley Echo and the countless people who have expressed their support and encouragement over the past few months. All of you make me proud to live in the Swannanoa Valley.

So, it’s with great pride that I welcome you to The Valley Echo. I can’t wait for the next million words.