When I was appointed director of ARGIA, in that remoteness of 2002, more than one asked me if I had to be congratulated or condolent. The truth is that I had been frightened, even if I was then deputy director, because the position of director had fallen from one side to the other. But the new task had to be tackled with courage and conviction, and I answered “congratulations, of course” to that joke bite. One of my fears was whether that project that was created in 1919 would run out of my direction. What a load!

And after twelve years, I'm going to leave happy to be director of Argia. Removing a load from the top and preparing others to get on the shoulders. A dozen years are more than enough to be in such a position, the new winds are essential, especially in high-level occupations. Go with forces and new ideas that will benefit us all.

For my peace of mind, moreover, our journal is still here, being a clear reference in the field of Basque communication, both on paper and on the Internet. And squeezed at once. Although we as a team and project are more strengthened than in 2002, the crisis has brought us back to our usual rush, after many years when the rays of prosperity have touched us a little bit.

We started online in Argia in 1997. In 2002-2003 we saw no solutions to the economic hole generated in our box by the new support and we had to ask ourselves with rigor: “Do we imagine our communication project without the Internet?” And the answer was no, very clear. Then there was no choice but to go ahead.

A decade later, the change in business that the Internet has brought has not yet been clarified, but it looks much clearer than then that whoever wants to be at the tip of communication has to be there as well. For the journalist, moreover, the possibilities are multiplied. In the time when the death of the paper press is announced, we will work so that it does not. On paper, it will also keep the person who keeps the information prepared and of quality, and to the extent that it moves away from everyday life, more opportunities will be available. The day by day, more and more, is on the Internet. Our Weekly is well positioned, apart from the daily whirlwind of information, offering the reader an elaborate and committed information so that he can also devour it with another calm. Argia.com is our day-to-day tool, and there, yes, year after year, we have taken and will continue to take on stronger challenges.

I will continue working as a JOURNALIST in this house and I will have work: The Internet, new technologies and social media are forcing the journalist to adapt today, and what he does not do will be tough. That's right, it doesn't just surprise us with the wave of tool and technology, because, as always, content is what's really important. The reader, the viewer, is associated with good content. Where is that? A little bit in fountains, in training, in books, in the network, in the street... And, above all, the independence of the journalist. OK, it's a bad thing -- some say the myth -- but you have to look for it. I, at least, have tried, both as a director and a journalist. I will continue to do so, among other things, on this page, unless the new director tells me otherwise.

Estitxu Eizagirre, editor-in-chief, will be the new director of Argia. I wish you the greatest amount of money in this task and make it clear that you will have the help of the whole team.