Letter from the editor:
Today is The Hill's 30th birthday, and we couldn't be more proud of how much we've grown since the fall of 1994.
When The Hill was first founded, its staff was small and focused solely on its weekly print newspaper. I was told that a staff of about seven reporters would be submitting stories on Tuesday for publication the next day. And every Wednesday, reporters from The Hill went to the movies.
Why do they spend most of their working hours watching matinees? Now, they have another week to report on an article (or maybe two) that will be published in print the following week. there was. After all, the internet didn't exist back then.
Fast forward a few decades later. The Hill now has a strong online presence, as well as a print publication three times a week when Congress is in session. We also have teams dedicated to audience, video, opinion, and events that didn't exist a while ago. We offer streaming programs such as the popular opinion show “Rising.” NewsNation airs “The Hill” TV show daily and “The Hill Sunday” on weekends. The Hill has grown into a 24/7 news operation.
What's the key to our success? There are many reasons, but a big one is our nonpartisan approach to news. In recent years, politics has become more polarized, with much of the media leaning either to the right or to the left. Not The Hill. It doesn't matter to us which party is better or worse. Simply call balls and strikes. The Hill has long been considered middling by media watchdogs, and that continues to be the case.
I've been at The Hill since 2003 and became editor-in-chief in 2014. Sometimes people ask me, “What's the best thing about your job?” The answer has been the same for years, the people on The Hill.
I can't give a shout out to everyone who helped The Hill reach its 30th issue, but Alexander Bolton, Sheila Casey, Jennifer de Freire Yinglin, the late Albert Eisele, Hugo Gurdon, Greg Nash and the late Marty Tolchin. They all played important roles. I can't thank them enough. I would also like to thank Ian Swanson, editor-in-chief of The Hill. He's a great journalist, manager, and newsroom powerhouse. Ian and I have been in the field for decades and there's no one I'd rather have in my trenches than him.
Last but not least, I would like to express my gratitude to all our readers. Without you, there would be no The Hill. Thank you for your interest in our story. For the next 30 years, we'll continue to do what we've always done: tell our stories and grow.
Sincerely,
Bob Cusack
