HORIZON MAGAZINE started as a cross-community, non-political publication and has remained so. It is a non-profit making venture with cost to readers and advertising rates to patrons held to a minimum.
Since its establishment in 1980 as a single news-sheet Horizon Magazine developed over the years to a 32 page A4 monthly magazine and now, (because it is cheaper to produce) a 48 page A5 monthly magazine which covers all of North Belfast. The magazine is distributed through subscription to other countries such as USA, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Republic of Ireland. Because of this new format HORIZON was able to go colour, alternating its colour production between 16 and 32 pages on a regular basis. This idea has appealed to the readership and HORIZON, although never going to be a ‘Times Magazine’, has got a dedicated readership.
The main aim of HORIZON is to promote Education and Healthy Living and impact information to the residents of North Belfast, and particularly to the local area, from statutory bodies such as the Housing Executive, Social Services and working groups within North Belfast. These Groups include the local Schools, Ardoyne Healthy Living Project, incorporating Ardoyne and Shankill Healthcare units, and all sporting groups wishing to input to the magazine. The Local Welfare Rights Office is also one of the many organizations which benefit through local promotion within the MAGAZINE. This in turn benefits the Community which avails of the sound advice offered on their premises.
The magazine is treated by its staff as a fun publication and contains short stories from local writers, sporting activities and functions such as weddings, christenings and birthday celebrations. Functions may be covered by Horizon photographer where possible. Where this can’t be achieved the celebrants are asked to arrange a photographer themselves and HORIZON will publish the photographs.
There is also input from those who receive the magazine overseas, and indeed their articles, poems and photographs are sought after. This in turn keeps the people at home in touch with those abroad.
The magazine was first put together at 449 Crumlin Road, (long gone) facing the main entrance of Holy Cross Church. Due to redevelopment of that area the project was moved to the old Community Aid office in the main car park in Brookfield Industrial Estate which was part of Coastal Removal premises. No rest for the wicked - it was then moved to Flax Centre, Unit R9, just to the left of the rear entrance, where HORIZON shared the premises with Flax Housing Association. Community Aid premises were converted to an Art Studio and they themselves moved to Rosebank Mill. To house another tenant HORIZON also moved from the Flax Centre to Rosebank Mill.
No that was not the end. The Rosebank was converted into apartments and HORIZON was then moved to the first floor office in the main office block of Flax Trust in Brookfield, followed by another shift to the Mill Diner Block on Crumlin Road.
This block on the main Crumlin Road was earmarked for redevelopment around 2003 together with the rest of Brookfield and HORIZON was on the move again. This move took the project back to Flax Centre, Unit R7, where their near neighbours were the café in the main Foyer and Seamus Drake, motor mechanic, at the rear.
Things went really well here but yet another move was in the offing. Unable to man the office alone, eight hours a day, sometimes seven days a week, Eddie McAteer asked for the project to be moved and run from his home. As Eddie was working voluntary there were no hiccups and this arrangement was agreed and at the present time, the project is run from Eddie’s home in Ladbrook Drive.
Since July 2001 the Magazine has been accessible to Internet users thereby giving advertisers extra coverage without extra cost. Other publications which have been produced by HORIZON PUBLICATIONS are also available to Internet users.
Unlike other publications HORIZON does not charge for notices, such as Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, Deaths, Memorials or the inclusion of photographs.
Together with the Magazine, and all other HORIZON publications, an effort is being made to have all the photographs ever published in HORIZON, made available to download, at a minimal cost.