It appeared on the streets of Ireland on the morning of Monday, January 2, 1905, as the first halfpenny newspaper in Ireland – a new publishing concept which was proving successful in the UK, where a lower cover price was making newspapers accessible to ever greater numbers of people.

News publishers evolve along with the nation they seek to inform and along with the audiences they want to enlighten. The journalism of the Irish Independent has therefore mirrored Irish society over 12 decades. It is obviously quite a long time. The Irish Independent is almost 18 years older than the State.

Over such a span of time, there are occasions when the Irish Independent got things right and occasions when we got things wrong. Over the course of this year, we will revisit some of our journalism and look at both more closely.

In its first edition of January 2, 1905, under a headline “Ourselves” its mission was set out, much of which is as accurate today as it was all those decades ago – though not the 120-year-old language and framing.

One phrase in particular struck a chord with me, when it described itself as “what a modern newspaper should be … brightly written and attractively presented, free from unwholesome sensationalism, and sustaining a character for truthfulness and good faith”.

Relevant, relatable, accessible, interesting and trustworthy – then as now.

That remains our mission.

We inform, explain, entertain and challenge. We believe that trust and transparency are vital.

Our aim is to have a positive impact on wider society by seeking the truth, informing our readers and holding power to account.

Today, at a time when journalism is under threat on many fronts, we republish that statement in full, to mark the Irish Independent’s 120th birthday.

Cormac Bourke Editor in Chief

The 1905 mission statement:

Today the Irish Independent enters on a new era which, we feel confident, will be one of instant success and continued prosperity. We believe we are right in claiming for this, the first halfpenny morning newspaper published in Ireland, that it contains the news of the day presented in a form which the public will appreciate as a departure from traditions of journalism which are now outworn.

Our aim is to make this journal what a modern newspaper should be – the “biography of a day”, brightly written and attractively presented, free from unwholesome sensationalism, and sustaining a character for truthfulness and good faith. The news of the day will be given without colouring or prejudice. Reports will be condensed, but the greatest care will be taken that their essence shall be retained. Let the sentiments of a public man be agreeable to us or the reverse, his utterances will be fairly and impartially reported.

The Irish Independent, under its new editorial and managerial control, will justify its claim to be a National journal, independent in fact as well as in name. It holds itself free to help on every good cause which is for Ireland’s benefit. It will place our country’s interests above those of any party and it will not seek to exploit any section or individual. The extravagances of partisanship will be unknown in its editorial columns. If we cannot always hope to reconcile disagreements in policy among public men, we shall do nothing to aggravate them.

To the Irish Language and Industrial Revival movements, as to every movement for the National and material regeneration of Ireland, we shall give our heartiest support.

While uncompromising in its support of the demand for the restoration of the National rights of Ireland, the Irish Independent will be neither offensive nor aggressive in its style of advocacy, and as a newspaper will be found acceptable by every class and creed.

The public will judge for themselves – and, we have no doubt, favourably – of the value of our new venture. But we would not have it assumed that the last word has been said in the matter of improvements on antiquated methods. As time goes on we shall introduce fresher features of attraction. We have made arrangements also to produce a larger sheet than the present one whenever the occasion demands it. Between our readers and ourselves we hope to establish so close an understanding that we shall expect to receive from time to time useful suggestions as to how the paper may be made acceptable to an even wider constituency. All such suggestions, from whatever quarter they may come, will be gladly received and carefully considered.

Such imperfections as are to be found in what is practically the first number of a new journal will be speedily remedied. Every line of this issue, from the first to the last, is new, and newly set up, and the paper itself is produced by the most modern equipment of machinery to be found in any newspaper office in the world.

The Irish Independent will, in short, be a journal alive to the necessities of the hour, and will not fail in the enterprise requisite to keep abreast of the times. Before many weeks have elapsed our readers will see new developments, which will not only introduce the paper in every corner of the island, but will make the public realise that they have in their hands absolutely the best newspaper yet published in Ireland.

In conclusion, we heartily extend to our readers the season’s greetings and wish them one and all, in whatsoever quarter of the globe they may dwell, a bright, happy, and prosperous New Year.