Eta Kitto!

Eta Kitto! (stylized as ...eta kitto!) is a Basque-language weekly magazine and media brand based in Eibar, in the Debabarrena region of Gipuzkoa, Spain. It is published by the ...eta kitto! Euskara Elkartea (Basque Language Association), a non-profit organization founded in 1992 to manage and coordinate the publication. The magazine traces its origins to December 1988, when the Eibar Municipal Council's Basque Language Service launched a monthly newspaper-format publication. It became a fortnightly in 1992 and a weekly in 1994, and has since grown into a multi-platform local media brand with a print circulation of around 7,950 copies and an estimated 14,000 readers (AZTIKER 2008). The brand's content focuses primarily on local news and information from Eibar and the surrounding Debabarrena area, covering topics such as sports, culture, society, health, and urban planning. In addition to the flagship weekly, the brand has spawned several spin-off publications and projects, including Txikitto! (a monthly for children), Kirolkitto! (sports), Gaztekitto! (youth), and community events such as the ...eta kitto! jaia (festival). The magazine also produces special supplements in collaboration with local publications from Ermua, Elgeta, and Soraluze. Eta Kitto! has a strong digital presence through its website etakitto.eus, social media, and audiovisual content. The brand underwent a major visual identity redesign in 2022, its third in history, adapting the print weekly to a slightly smaller format and emphasizing digital platforms. It has received recognition including the Ukan Berrikuntza Saria (Innovation Award) in 1999 and 2009, and the Rikardo Arregi Award in 1989 for an article about Candido Eguren. The publication celebrated its 1,000th issue in January 2017 and continues to serve as a key source of Basque-language local journalism in the region.

The origins of Eta Kitto! date to December 1988, when the Eibar Municipal Council's Basque Language Service (Euskara Zerbitzua) launched a monthly publication called ...eta kitto! in newspaper format. The name was taken from a band created in 1982 under Mayor Mikel Larrañaga. Initially distributed on Sundays at newsstands alongside newspapers, from issue 21 it began home delivery. The monthly ran for 31 issues with a circulation of 5,000 copies. In April 1989, issue 4 introduced advertising for the first time. Issue 5 won the Rikardo Arregi Award for an article about Candido Eguren. Issue 15 debuted the section "Gazte gara gazte," a precursor to today's "Gaztekitto!" On 28 May 1992, the first issue of the fortnightly ...eta kitto! (issue 32) was published. In 1992, the ...eta kitto! Euskara Elkartea (Basque Language Association) was founded and took over responsibility for publishing the magazine. According to a sociological survey conducted in 1993, the publication had 14,000 readers at that time. In December 1993, the first Commercial Guide was presented and published in January 1994. The fortnightly published 39 issues under the association, with its headquarters at the Markeskua palace. On 13 May 1994, the first weekly issue (issue 71) was published, with a color cover for the first time. The weekly continued in A4 format. The publication moved from Markeskua to the Isasi premises in March 1996, and from Isasi to the Merkatu Plaza in December 1998. On 6 June 1993, the first special election issue was published. In February 1993, celebrations were held for the publication of 100 issues, including the ...eta kitto! festival, special radio programs, exhibitions, and round tables. On 31 December 1995, the first sports awards ceremony was held at the old town hall, later moving to the Portal and finally to the Coliseum. Since becoming a weekly, circulation grew: from 6,300 copies at issue 100 to 7,850 at issue 500. In October 1996, the first issue of the children's monthly Txikitto! was published. In May 1996 (issue 154), the Basque Cycling pool was created. In June 1996, to mark the weekly's second anniversary, the "Milla bateko herri-krosa" was held alongside inter-club Olympics. In January 1997, the first issue of Kirolkitto! (issue 179) was published. In December 1999, the weekly interviewed Eibar natives in the diaspora, including those living in Australia, Switzerland, the Americas, Germany, Mexico, and London. The first website was launched in 1999, and on 23 April 1999 the weekly celebrated its 10th anniversary with a design change, round tables, and the presentation of its first web page. In April 2002, the association celebrated its 10th anniversary; issue 391 introduced a new logo designed by Lorenzo Gabella (still in use), a redesign of the magazine, and a redesigned website with a new address. In June 2004, the first photo album about San Juanes ("Bixamona") was published. In the 22 October 2004 issue, a new section "Lapikotxiki" was created, and the Gaztekitto! section began weekly publication, taking over from the previous "Teen-ajeak" section. That year, ...eta kitto! moved from Merkatu Plaza to Urkizu. On 12 December 2008, with issue 660, the weekly began full-color publication. On 2 February 2009, the Basque Government's Department of Language Policy awarded the Ukan Berrikuntza Saria to ...eta kitto! for its changes over twenty years and its forward-looking approach. On 20 January 2017, ...eta kitto! published its 1,000th issue. Its cover had already begun featuring the comic "Tutulumendi" by Idurre Iriondo on a fortnightly basis. During the pandemic, for the first three weeks the print edition was not published (it was posted online); the next issue, on 27 April 2020, came with the latest design change to date. In 2022, after three decades, the ...eta kitto! Euskara Elkartea introduced a new corporate image, its third in history (the first in 1992 at the association's founding, the second in 2002). To strengthen digital areas, they adapted the print weekly to a slightly smaller format, with careful attention to aesthetics, design, and readability. The website, social media, and audiovisual content continued as complements to the print magazine, with increasing dedication.

• 2022

  Third corporate image redesign introduced; print format adjusted.

• 2020

  Print edition suspended for three weeks during pandemic; resumed 27 April with redesign.

• 2017

  1,000th issue published on 20 January.

• 2009

  Awarded Ukan Berrikuntza Saria by Basque Government on 2 February.

• 2008

  Full-color weekly publication begins with issue 660 on 12 December.

• 2004

  First "Bixamona" photo album published; "Lapikotxiki" section created.

• 2002

  New logo by Lorenzo Gabella introduced in issue 391; website redesigned.

• 1999

  First website launched; 10th anniversary celebrated on 23 April.

• 1996

  Txikitto! children's monthly launched in October; Kirolkitto! first issue in January 1997.

• 1995

  First sports awards ceremony held on 31 December.

• 1994

  First weekly issue (71) published on 13 May with color cover.

• 1993

  First Commercial Guide presented in December; 100th issue celebrated.

• 1992

  ...eta kitto! Euskara Elkartea founded; first fortnightly issue published on 28 May.

• 1989

  Issue 5 wins Rikardo Arregi Award; issue 4 introduces advertising.

• 1988

  First issue of ...eta kitto! monthly published in December by Eibar Municipal Council's Basque Language Service.

Local Basque-language weekly magazine and community media brand for Eibar and Debabarrena.

• ...eta kitto! weekly magazine

  Flagship Basque-language weekly magazine, 28 pages typically, with special issues.

• Txikitto!

  Monthly magazine for children, launched in October 1996.

• Kirolkitto!

  Sports publication, first issue in January 1997.

• Gaztekitto!

  Youth section, weekly since 2004.

• etakitto.eus

  Official website with news, magazines, videos, and projects.

1. 1eta kitto! euskara elkarteaetakitto.eus
2. 2Eta Kitto - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Eta kitto! - Wikipedia (Basque)eu.wikipedia.org