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Wesley Atchison retires as editor of Constitution, Weekly News


The long-time editor of the Tyrone Constitution and its sister newspaper, the Strabane Weekly News, Wesley Atchison, has retired after 46 years’ service with the newspapers, which are now part of the province-wide Alpha Media Group.


The 65-year old Omagh native joined Tyrone’s


oldest newspaper – the ’Con’ was founded in 1844 – directly after completing his A level studies at the then Portora Royal School in Enniskillen. Having been appointed as a junior reporter with


the ‘Con’ at Omagh’s High Street in July 1974 at the height of the Troubles, he covered many heartbreaking and traumatic events in the area. Wesley progressed to deputy editor and


subsequently editor in January 1995, succeeding the late Norman Armstrong, from whom, he says, he learnt a lot over the years they worked together. Wesley said that his decision to retire was not an


easy one as the ’Con’ had been a major part of his life for so long. But having suffered serious illnesses in recent years he feels that the time is right to take things a little easier with his wife, Karen, who is principal of Cooley Primary School in Sixmilecross. Having had six months of chemotherapy treatment and then immediately shielding due to the Covid-19 pandemic and ‘lockdown’, he said it had been a very strange time but was ever grateful for all the medical expertise, care and kindness he has received through the NHS. The journalist – a familiar face in the local community – says he will miss the weekly buzz of seeing the papers ‘put to bed’ and the satisfaction derived from that, as well as the camaraderie with fellow journalists, photographers and staff in other departments in Omagh as well as the production team.


He admitted that during the Troubles there were


many tough days and nights. Not long after taking over the reins as editor, Wesley faced his greatest challenge when Omagh’s heart was ripped out with the August 15, 1998, Real IRA bomb attack which claimed the lives of 29 and unborn twins. For the Tyrone Constitution, with its relatively small number of staff, covering the atrocity and its aftermath was a mammoth task. “Knowing many of the victims personally added to the heartbreak,” said Wesley. “But I will always be grateful for the support I received from work


Wesley Atchison. Photo by Isobel O’Brien


colleagues. What amazed me was the resilience and bravery of the bereaved relatives and the injured, as well as the dignity shown in the town which was very much united in grief.” In something of a ‘bittersweet’ success, the Con


was subsequently awarded both Northern Ireland and UK Weekly Newspaper of the Year awards for its ‘comprehensive and sensitive’ coverage of the atrocity and its aftermath. “I can honestly say there were tears in my eyes as


I received that UK award in London,” Wesley recalled. “But there was also good news to be recorded in the pages of the ‘Con’ over the years as well. It was always a pleasure to report on the successes of local folk of all ages and walks of life and also to give people a voice if there was a problem in the community needing investigated.” Over the years the retiring editor has seen many changes in the newspaper, including the shift from broadsheet to tabloid size, the replacement of the typewriter by the computer, the introduction of full colour pages and various other introductions. “As I bow out from my editor’s role I would thank


all of those at all levels and all departments who I had the pleasure of working alongside for their friendship, support and encouragement. May I also wish the Tyrone Constitution, Strabane Weekly News and Alpha Media Group as a whole every success in the future.”


— Courtesy of the Tyrone Constitution, where a longer version of this story ran.


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