The peacock symbol has been synonymous with the newspaper ever since and appears in a more modern format on today's masthead. There is no doubting our special place in newspaper history, and in the daily life of the Province. N ow located at a modern publishing centre, modern production systems include computerised typesetting, electronic page make-up, satellite transmission services and full colour printing capability. T oday's sophisticated news gathering techniques, which link the editorial offices by computer with worldwide news and picture services, contrast starkly with the 18th Century when the printing of international news depended on the arrival of packet boats from foreign or British parts. The boat carrying the first copy to leave America of the Declaration of Independence, and bound for London, hit stormy waters off the north coast of Ireland.
Today there is a constant demand for copies of that famous and historical front page.
M ore recently, the News Letter has played a prominent role in the search for peace and a political settlement in Northern Ireland. It remains a relevant and challenging voice in Northern Ireland, displaying the perseverance, wit, creativity, knowledge and even the impertinence which makes a newspaper useful, entertaining, and on guard.