Search
Press Gazette’s summary of the latest moves and personnel changes in senior UK media jobs. Refresh page for latest updates.
(If you have some job news to share, email pged@pressgazette.co.uk. Advertise your job vacancies on Press Gazette here.)
Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday | Senior editorial roles
2/8/22: The Mail newspaper titles have appointed a number of new senior editorial executives.
Daily Mail executive editor Maggie O’Riordan has been appointed deputy editor of the Mail on Sunday under David Dillon, effective from 5 September. Also at the Sunday title John Mullin has been appointed executive editor (news), effective 16 August.
The Daily Mail no longer has a deputy editor following the departure of Tobyn Andreae to be communications secretary for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
Instead the daily paper has appointed several associate editors under editor Ted Verity to effectively fill that role, effective from 5 September. They are: Andrew Morrod as senior associate editor with Liz Hunt and Neville Dean as associate editors.
Also at the daily, Dan Hyde has been appointed executive editor, Fiona Hardcastle as assistant editor for Femail, and Oliver Thring as assistant editor (features).
BBC Question Time | Editor
29/7/22: BBC One’s flagship political debate programme Question Time has appointed Gerry Gay as its new editor, starting in September when the programme returns and is refreshed with a new set.
Since April 2020 Gay has been editor of BBC Scotland’s nightly news programme The Nine. He said: “I’ve been an avid viewer of Question Time for as long as I can remember, and I’m honoured to be entrusted with one of the most exciting jobs in broadcast journalism. There’s never been a more important time for civilised and passionate debate, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Gay succeeds Hilary O’Neill, who was appointed in September 2017 and stepped down in June. She oversaw the departure of David Dimbleby after 26 years and the appointment of his successor Fiona Bruce, who started in January 2019.
Evening Standard | Acting editor
20/7/22: Evening Standard acting editor Charlotte Ross has left the newspaper after 16 years.
Ross, who first joined the Standard in 2006 as executive features editor before progressing to executive editor under Geordie Greig and deputy editor for Sarah Sands and George Osborne, said: “The Evening Standard is quite simply an iconic brand with a brilliant team of journalists – past and present – who I love, respect and have enjoyed working with enormously.
“It has been an immense privilege to work here during such a key part of my professional life. There has never been a dull day. I will miss it hugely.”
Ross has been succeeded as acting editor by deputy editor Jack Lefley, who has also been at the paper for about 16 years, with immediate effect.
Find out more on Press Gazette here.
NCTJ | Head of Journalism Skills Academy
19/7/22: The NCTJ has appointed Archant’s director of content development Laura Adams in a new role leading the Journalism Skills Academy.
Adams, who has worked at Archant in various editorial roles since 2008, will lead the development and growth of the academy, which offers training for journalists at all career stages and is supported by the Google News Initiative.
She will also contribute to the NCTJ’s overall development strategy and financial and operational plans.
Adams, who has been vice chair of the NCTJ since 2014, said: “I am hugely passionate about training and the ongoing development of journalists and look forward to working with the team at the NCTJ and the industry to further develop quality standards across the board.”
NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher said Adams has a “clear mandate to accelerate growth in provision and impact” at the skills academy and “will work with employers to develop the careers of their editorial teams as well as supporting freelance journalists and all those who need journalism skills training and development”.
Toby Granville, editorial development director at Newsquest which recently bought Archant, and an NCTJ trustee, said: “Although I’m sorry Laura is moving on, I think she is perfectly suited to this important position at the NCTJ.”
Reach | Gaming editor
18/7/22: Reach has appointed Nathan Bliss its first gaming editor. Behind Local News reports that Bliss has spent the last few years working at Reach’s sports vertical as an e-sports football writer. The business will begin hiring the rest of the team for the gaming vertical shortly.
Bliss said: “We’ll be covering trending gaming news, reviewing the latest gaming titles, evaluating cutting-edge gaming technology and much more.” (Behind Local News)
Newsquest | Investigations editor
18/7/22: Mark Williams-Thomas, the detective-turned-journalist who exposed Jimmy Savile as a paedophile in the 2012 ITV documentary “The Other Side of Jimmy Savile”, has joined Newsquest.
Williams-Thomas joins the regional publisher as group investigations editor. The company says he will “be helping to develop Newsquest’s recently launched online True Crime series ‘Charged’” as well as working with crime and investigations journalists throughout the business.
Williams-Thomas said: “For years now investigative journalism has been on the decline and so this is a really exciting opportunity… Working with local and regional journalists we will focus on shining a light in the darkest of corners [and] holding people to account”.
The Guardian US | Betsy Reed named as editor
14/7/22: Editor in chief of The Intercept Betsy Reed has joined The Guardian as US editor.
She is a former executive editor of The Nation and will succeed John Mulholland, editor since April 2017, who announced earlier this year that he would be stepping down.
Reed said: “ It will be an honor and a thrill to lead a team of talented journalists dedicated to revealing what matters about American politics and culture to a global audience – exposing corruption and injustice, interrogating US cultural power, and holding institutions accountable from Washington to Wall Street to Silicon Valley. I can’t imagine a more critical moment to be pursuing this journalistic mission, or a news organization better positioned to execute it.”
The Times | Executive Vice President and Publisher
14/7/22: Chris Longcroft has been appointed to the role of EVP Publisher at The Times at Sunday Times. He had been covering the roles on an interim basis since March.
The move means he will step down from his role as News UK’s chief financial officer.
Longcroft will oversee all aspects of The Times and Sunday Times, working with editors John Witherow and Emma Tucker.
Longcroft said: “The Times and The Sunday Times are iconic brands and we have ambitious plans to grow their revenue and profitability. It’s an honour to take on this new challenge as we reframe the future of our newsbrands for the digital age.”
Longcroft has been replaced on an interim basis as News UK CFO by Emma Humphreys, currently the company’s finance director, while a recruitment process commences.
Daily Mirror | Political editor
13/7/22: The Daily Mirror has appointed John Stevens as its new political editor, replacing Pippa Crerar who is moving to the same role at The Guardian.
Stevens is currently deputy political editor at the Daily Mail and will move in the autumn. He said the new role was his “dream job” at an “incredible moment in British political history.
Mirror editor-in-chief Alison Phillips said: “John is a proven story getter who has broken exclusive after exclusive, including the revelations about Dominic Raab’s holiday at the height of the Afghan withdrawal crisis, and
we are delighted to welcome him to the Mirror.
“In the last few years the Mirror’s political coverage has set the pace in Westminster. We have an outstanding team focussed on breaking stories and holding power to account. Under John’s leadership I am confident the team will reach new heights.”
City World | Editor-in-chief and publisher
11/7/22: National World has appointed two senior editors to new roles overseeing its City World sites.
Sheffield Star editor Nancy Fielder is moving to become editor-in-chief of the City World network, while Yorkshire Evening Post editor Laura Collins is becoming the network’s publisher.
The City World network, newly launched by National World after its acquisition of JPI Media at the end of 2020, now includes seven titles in cities across the UK, including Bristol and Liverpool.
Fielder and Collins are set to be replaced at their titles as editors by Claire Lewis and Joseph Keith respectively.
Fielder said: “Our cities deserve local journalism that champions them, that gives a platform to unheard communities, that challenges authority and that reminds everyone why they should feel proud to live there.
“I am really excited to be now working with fantastic teams of editors and reporters in brilliant cities across England and Scotland. We want to use their expertise and love for those cities to show what can be done when local people are given a voice to showcase their neighbourhoods.”
Yorkshire Evening Post and Sheffield Star | Editors
11/7/22: National World has appointed long-time crime reporter Claire Lewis as the new editor of the Sheffield Star, while current Yorkshire Evening Post deputy Joseph Keith has been promoted to editor of the paper.
The duo are replacing Nancy Fielder and Laura Collins who were moved to wider roles at parent company National World, overseeing their City World network.
In his first editorial for YEP as editor, Keith said: “I was born here in Leeds and have lived in the city almost all of my life. And, like many Loiners who hail from this great city, I am fiercely proud that it is part of me.”
He added: “I’m fiercely protective of it too, so the ‘Championing Leeds’ slogan in our masthead holds real meaning for me… As editor, I will do my very best to continue that work, champion our great city and campaign on its behalf to showcase why it is such a brilliant place to live, work and visit.”
BBC News | Newsnight presenter
8/7/22: Victoria Derbyshire will replace Emily Maitlis as a presenter of Newsnight, the BBC has announced. Derbyshire will start as the joint lead presenter on the current affairs show alongside Kirsty Wark in September but will present some programmes before then. Faisal Islam will also continue to present regularly.
She said: “This is a special opportunity to take on one of the best jobs in British journalism and help shape the programme’s future. I can’t wait to champion more stories about people’s lives while holding those who represent them to account.”
Derbyshire will join Newsnight after Maitlis, along with the former North America editor Jon Sopel, left the BBC to join LBC owner Global and launch a daily news podcast.
Newsnight editor Stewart Maclean said: “Victoria is one of the most tenacious journalists in the business, with a fantastic ability to ask the straightforward questions our viewers want answered, and a shelf-full of major awards for her work.”
Read more here.
BBC Breakfast | Presenter
8/7/22: BBC News correspondent Jon Kay will become the new regular presenter on BBC Breakfast working from Monday to Wednesday alongside Sally Nugent.
He is replacing former presenter Dan Walker who left to join 5 News.
Kay has worked for the BBC since joining as a trainee 25 years ago and has worked on a diverse range of programmes, from Crimewatch to Panorama. He has been part of the BBC Breakfast team for eight years.
BBC Breakfast editor Richard Frediani said: “Jon is a brilliant broadcaster who can turn his hand to hard-hitting news stories, celebrity interviews and everything in between. Already a member of the BBC Breakfast family, we are thrilled to have him join the team as a regular presenter.”
Read more here.
ITV News | Editor
5/7/22: ITV News head of newsgathering Andrew Dagnell has been promoted to editor following the appointment of current editor Rachel Corp as chief executive of ITN. Both moves will take effect on 1 September.
The editor role includes responsibility for ITV’s national news programmes, ITV News London, ITN-produced Tonight, live specials and documentaries for ITV, and the ITV News website.
Dagnell has worked at ITV News for eight years in roles including news editor of ITV News London, home and foreign news editor at ITV Network News and head of ITV News’ specialist journalists. Before joining the team he had experience at broadcasters and newspapers including Good Morning Britain, News of the World and the Sunday Mirror.
ITV’s director of news and current affairs Michael Jermey described Dagnell as “an inspiring editorial leader” and said he “has played a crucial role in ITV News’ recent coverage successes” such as with the US Capitol riot and on squalid social housing conditions in the UK.
Reach | Chief digital publisher
5/7/22: Reach has promoted David Higgerson, previously chief audience officer, to the newly-formed role of chief digital publisher at the company.
The role sees him join Reach’s executive committee.
The business said Higgerson “will continue to lead on audience delivery, but will expand his role to cover readership diversification, with an immediate focus on youth audience and video strategy and a new launch in this area to come later this year”.
He will report to Reach chief executive Jim Mullen, “with a dotted line” to the group editor-in-chief Lloyd Embley.
Manchester Evening News | Editor
1/7/22: Manchester Evening News senior editor Sarah Lester has been promoted to editor of the Reach title, where she has worked since 1997, in print and online.
Lester, who has been playing a key role in the MEN’s digital development to be the biggest regional website in the UK, said: said: “When I was a teenager I dreamed of being a journalist at the Manchester Evening News – it’s hard to believe that I’m now editor of this incredible brand. It means a great deal.”
Reach said Darren Thwaites remains editor-in-chief of the MEN portfolio,
including the region’s weekly newspapers, as part of his brief as marketplace publisher for the company’s northern titles.
Channel 4 News | Foreign correspondent
30/6/22: BBC Pakistan and Afghanistan correspondent Secunder Kermani (pictured, left) is joining Channel 4 News as a foreign correspondent.
News correspondent Paraic O’Brien, who has been reporting from the channel from Ukraine, has also been appointed to a permanent foreign reporting role.
Over the past year Kermani has helped lead BBC coverage of the Taliban takeover and its aftermath.
O’Brien is a multi-award-winning Irish TV journalist who has been with Channel 4 News for a decade.
Reuters | President
28/6/22: Thomson Reuters has announced Paul Bascobert as the next president of Reuters.
Bascobert will lead the company’s news and media operations from New York. He joins from Blue Ocean Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), or blank-cheque company, “focused on media, marketplace and tech platform businesses”.
Prior to Blue Ocean, Bascobert was chief executive of local news giant Gannett from August 2019 until June 2020. Bascobert has also served as president of Businessweek, head of business operations for Bloomberg Media Group, and senior vice president of operations and subsequently chief marketing officer at Dow Jones.
Bascobert starts his new role in September. (Picture: Ramin Talaie/Corbis via Getty Images)
Global | Podcast host / Analysis and investigations editor
20/6/22: Newsnight’s policy editor Lewis Goodall has been named as the third host of a new daily news podcast coming from LBC owner Global this autumn, alongside Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel.
Goodall will also take on the role of analysis and investigations editor for Global, which said this would give him a remit to “supercharge” its video journalism, report on breaking stories, and create “high impact content” for the podcast, Global Player and LBC’s social media.
Goodall, previously political correspondent for Sky News before returning to the BBC in 2019, said: “The chance to join Emily and Jon in their bid to create the world’s best and most innovative daily news podcast was exciting enough, but the opportunity to help lead and supercharge Global’s commitment to quality video journalism and reporting – my great passion – in this next major stage in their expansion, took things to another level still. I can’t wait to get started.”
The Sun on Sunday | Political editor
20/6/22: Kate Ferguson, currently deputy political editor at The Sun since 2019, has been named political editor at sister title The Sun on Sunday starting this summer.
She will be the first female political editor at either Sun title when she succeeds David Wooding, who has been appointed editor of the Sunday Express.
Ferguson described it as a “dream job”, adding: “With the economy in crisis, war in Europe and rebellions in Parliament, our political coverage has never been more important.”
Before joining The Sun, Ferguson worked on titles including the Willesden & Brent Times, the Ham and High, the National News Agency, Press Association and the lobby team at Mail Online.
Update 22/6/22: Sun political correspondent Ryan Sabey has been promoted to deputy political editor to take over from Ferguson.
The Scott Trust | Journalist director
20/6/22: Guardian Media Group’s sole shareholder The Scott Trust has appointed Guardian legal affairs correspondent Haroon Siddique as its new journalist director on the board, replacing financial editor Nils Pratley after six years.
Siddique said: “I’m honoured to be representing Guardian and Observer journalists on the board of The Scott Trust. I care deeply about protecting and enhancing the journalism of the Guardian and Observer, and look forward to working with the Trust on behalf of all my fellow editorial colleagues in the months and years ahead.”
The journalist director shares the same duties as other directors on the board and acts as a point of liaison to keep Guardian journalists informed of the trust’s strategies and policies, and vice versa.
Siddique’s appointment came after a successful hustings and indicative ballot of editorial staff, and the role receives £14,000 remuneration per year.
Times and Sunday Times | Head of travel
13/6/22: The Telegraph’s head of travel Claire Irvin has been appointed in the same role at The Times and Sunday Times and will begin in August.
Times publisher News UK said Irvin will lead the travel editorial team, oversee their digital-first publishing strategy and travel editorial commercial projects such as Times Travel.
Irvin said she was joining The Times at an “exciting time in their digital transformation” and that she looked forward to “developing their quality travel journalism into an irresistible world of inspiration, innovation and expert advice for their readers.
“Despite the challenges that international travel continues to face, its importance in the lives of The Times’ subscribers has never been greater, and I can’t wait to surprise and delight them with brilliant journalism showcasing the opportunities that await them, across all platforms.”
Mail Newspapers | Showbiz
10/6/22: Mail on Sunday showbiz editor Katie Hind has been promoted to consultant editor (showbusiness) for Mail Newspapers, which now runs as a seven-day operation across the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday.
Mail Newspapers said in a statement that Hind will “ensure that the celebrity content across both Mail titles is the best on Fleet Street”.
Hind joined the Mail on Sunday in 2016 and was previously Los Angeles editor at the Mirror. She was named showbiz reporter of the year at the Press Awards last year for scoops about Victoria Beckham’s use of the Covid-19 furlough scheme and Kay Burley’s birthday party that saw her suspended from Sky News for six months.
Euronews | Chief executive
8/6/22: Guillaume Dubois has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of European news outlet Euronews, taking over from interim CEO Bénédicte Bachs-Scherrer.
Before joining Euronews, Dubois was the director of broadcasting for the French 24-hour news channel LCI, as well as previously chairman and chief executive of L’Express Group.
Bachs-Scherrer will continue as the group’s chief financial officer.
The appointment comes as the outlet’s majority shareholder MGN is set to sell its shares to investment management firm Alpac Capital, as announced in December.
BBC News | Analysis editor
8/6/22: BBC News has named Outside Source presenter Ros Atkins (pictured, top) as analysis editor following the growing success of his explainer videos on social media as well as the BBC website and iPlayer.
The BBC said the appointment would “further bolster” its “commitment to impartial journalism”. Atkins will continue to regularly appear on the BBC’s TV news channels and radio output.
Richard Burgess, interim senior controller of news content, said: “Ros’ ability to innovate on digital platforms, combined with his analytical skills, will be fundamental to the role. The on-air editor role will be crucial in debunking misinformation and seeking the truth through examining data and open-source journalism.”
Atkins, who first joined the BBC as a 5 Live producer in 2001 and has since worked for World Service, World News and the News Channel, said it had “been hugely rewarding to see the response to the videos I’ve been making with the Outside Source team.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be taking on this role and to build on our efforts to explain and analyse the biggest stories for audiences.”
Bloomberg | UK contributing editor
6/6/22: Allegra Stratton has joined Bloomberg as UK contributing editor some six months after resigning as a government adviser over a video in which she joked about a lockdown-breaching Downing Street party.
She will write a new daily newsletter called the Readout sent at 5pm every day featuring the best of the day’s coverage from Bloomberg which launches on 20 June. Stratton is a former political editor for Newsnight and national editor for ITV.
She joins Bloomberg UK as part of a major expansion of the consumer-facing side of the business.
Read on for more media jobs moves from May 2022 and earlier:
Press Gazette's must-read weekly newsletter featuring interviews, data, insight and investigations.
No related posts.
The pandemic meant people died who read papers and people are cutting back and also going online. Younger people use more social media. It would be better to cut back these local papers.
Thank you Press Gazette for this this occasional informative and meaningful wrap-up of recent moves and appointments in the industry, varied across the board.
. It makes a change from some of the day-to-day tangential fluff you run on e.g. the GB News soap opera, (yawn), and propagating unfiltered self-hype of the likes of Reach plc’s future digital miracles strategy….
.Perhaps ask the latter, when they next come on, why the ‘Reject All’ (cookies) tab is so obstructively non-responsive on sundry Reach online newspaper titles, both national: Mirror, Express, and on many of its UK local and regional papers too.
. Good to see you have tackled all the ‘!!!Earn-$$$!!!’ spam problem long endured in the PG Comments section. I hope it lasts. Best wishes.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
© copyright 2022 Press Gazette Ltd. Made in Taiwan.