You’ll have noticed there’s no Am Paipear landing on your doormat this month, and there won’t be one in May either. We wanted to explain why.

The board has commissioned an independent appraisal of the business. With the landscape for print media shifting – and digital subscriptions changing how community news works everywhere – they want to make sure Am Paipear is in the best possible shape going forward. This isn’t about winding down. It’s about making sure we remain the voice of the community for a long time to come.

We know that’s a lot of words for “we’re taking stock,” but it matters, and we wanted to be straight with you about it.

In the meantime, your news hasn’t gone anywhere. Our new website is up and running at ampaipear.com, and we’ll be publishing stories there as normal. If you haven’t had a look yet, now’s the time.

We’re exploring all the options for what comes next – including whether we introduce a charge for digital content down the line. Nothing is decided yet. The main thing right now is that the news keeps coming, even if it’s on a screen rather than in your hands for a wee while.

Thank you for your patience, and for reading. Am Paipear has been here since 1976 because of its community, and that hasn’t changed.