Committed to the Mission

Martin Manna
Publisher

Dear Readers,

As we embark on a new year filled with new opportunities, I invite you to look back on everything we accomplished in the past year and pat yourself on the back. The fact is, we could have done nothing without your support.

With the assistance of a grant from the Library of Congress, we documented Chaldean American life in the 21st century. We interviewed restaurant owners, business owners, and pioneers in the community, developing stories and recording film that will live in the Library of Congress’s American Folklore section. We invited elders to sit down face-to-face and share their stories, capturing them for future generations.

We hosted a couple of events that celebrated Chaldean culture, one at Shenandoah called, “Follow the Silk Road,” which explored the trade industry and family businesses, and another purely fun event called “A Cultural Celebration,” which involved a bread-making demonstration, unique tea pouring and the chance to don village garb and learn traditional dance steps. It drew people from outside the community, which we were happy about. We love to share our culture with others!

We’ve also added an Iraqi branch office in the form of two writers in Alqosh, Iraq. These “boots on the ground” will keep us informed of any significant events in our homeland and will report each month on the happenings there. We are grateful to Ghazwan and Hanan for their contributions.

We are refining our video content, both on the website and on the app. In today’s rapidly changing media landscape, print media faces numerous challenges that threaten its survival. As readers increasingly turn to the internet for news, social media, and online publications, print newspapers and magazines struggle to maintain circulation numbers. Additionally, the rising costs of production, distribution, and paper, coupled with a reduced consumer base, have created further strains for print media.

We have called upon our readers, developing a Publisher’s Circle initiative, and are extremely appreciative of the support we have received through that vehicle.

Big plans are on the horizon for the future of the Chaldean News, beginning with the move to our new offices sometime in the coming months. The dedicated TV and radio studios will allow us more freedom in developing content and will allow us to create better and better digital options.

As we reflect on the journey of Chaldean News and look toward the future, we remain committed to our mission of serving as a trusted voice for the Chaldean community. While the world around us continues to evolve, our core values of integrity, authenticity, and unity will always guide us.

We are deeply grateful for your continued support, and we promise to keep delivering content that celebrates our heritage, informs, and inspires. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey. Together, we will continue to build a strong, connected community, now and for generations to come.

With sincere gratitude,
Martin Manna
Publisher, Chaldean News