The Gazette will be led by writer and broadcaster Murray MacLeod together with former politician and the founding editor of the West Highland Free Press, Brian Wilson.
Wilson, whose ministerial career also included becoming the first designated Minister for Gaelic to help bring closer together the Gaelic-speaking communities of Scotland and Ireland, will be reporting on a range of island affairs in both Gaelic and English.
Eric Mackinnon returns as Sports Editor with four pages of weekly coverage that will keep readers up to date with all the latest local news on football, shinty and more.
Entrusted with the mission to re-engage with the Scottish isles audiences, the Stornoway team has put together a team of columnists and contributors who will bring insights and opinions from across politics, current affairs and lifestyle.
Brian Wilson said: "When the new owners of JPIMedia asked me to be involved, I thought there was a duty to help restore the Gazette as a paper of record for the islands. A local newspaper is important not just for the service it provides in the present but also as a vital source for future reference.
"The Western Isles is an area with its own highly distinctive issues, interests and culture. They require a local newspaper, firmly rooted in the community, to serve these purposes."
Murray MacLeod said: “Despite falling sales, the Stornoway Gazette brand remains prominent within the island community. A large part of its recent decline has been due to the lack of a local team and the absence of a local office, both of which will be put right.
“We cannot take people’s loyalty for granted and they won’t return to it without reason. We will bring a mix of good, strong local stories and a team of writers that would grace any national newspaper."
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