We unmistakably live in an age where things change faster than ever before.

Saturday, August 14, 1999

We unmistakably live in an age where things change faster than ever before. Technology changes almost daily, business changes almost daily. You name it, change today is the only constant in our lives.

Certainly, it could be argued, not all change is for the good. And, it also could be said, that not all changes come easy or without some degree of wariness. But for the most part changes, in the form of advancements, make our lives easier and possibly more interesting.

It was only five or six years ago that technological changes in the newspaper industry were met with questionable glances and stiff resistance. New computers and other ways of streamlining the printing process were viewed as "black magic" or some Pacific island voo-doo.

The skepticism to the new technology often lingered for months, but as the employees moved along the learning curve, and saw what the technology could do, the fear and doubts disappeared.

Today, technological changes and advancements at the Austin Daily Herald are eagerly anticipated by employees, much like the birth of a child.

Well, today the Austin Daily Herald is proud to "give birth" to a new child – www.austindailyherald.com.

After months of hard work by members of our staff we’re excited to unveil a new and improved web site that will offer the community of Austin the very best site for news, weather, sports, entertainment and the list goes on.

The Austin Daily Herald has had a web site for several years, and it was quite functional and at one time state-of-the art. But as time passed its look became out- dated and its features limited.

The new web site at www.austindailyherald.com offers on-line readers many more functions, including more in-depth story coverage, archives of stories and photos appearing in the Austin Daily Herald, local classified advertisements, the local calendar of events, community forums, local businesses’ advertisements and direct links to Associated Press wire stories and weather maps.

Soon on-line readers of the Austin Daily Herald will be able to purchase subscriptions of the printed version of the Austin Daily Herald and classified word ads right on line.

Of course www.austindailyherald.com won’t have everything the printed version has, but it will be a great complement.

So check out our new web site at www.austindailyherald.com and drop us a line telling us what you think. We’ve embraced this new technology, and the changing world, and hope you all will as well.