What a year for the regional press losing its top daily editors. I make it eight that have gone this year.
Today it was revealed that Marc Astley editor of the Express & Echo in Exeter, which has gone weekly, has decided to leave after six years and another well known and long serving editor, Neal Butterworth, is also departing the Bournemouth Echo.
Butterworth's departure has prompted speculation that the Bournemouth Echo and Dorset Echo will merge under one editor in what has been described as a "restructuring exercise". Butterworth was appointed editor of the Echo in 1998.
In October, the highly-rated Keith Perch quit as editor of the Leicester Mercury.
Other daily regional editors who have resigned this year are: The Shropshire Star's Sarah-Jane Smith; the Newcastle Evening Chronicle's Paul Robertson; the Hull Daily Mail's John Meehan; the Lincolnshire Echo's Jon Grubb; and Dave King at the Swindon Advertiser.
It was also announced today that Ken Bird is leaving as editor-in-chief of the Somerset County Gazette to join the PR and events team at Taunton School. He has beeen replaced by news editor Alex Cameron.
Update: I've missed one daily editor. (see post below)
- It has been confirmed that Toby Granville, the editor of the Dorset Echo, will also edit the Bournemouth Echo and has been appointed group editor of the titles.
- Pics: Marc Astey (left); Neal Butterworth (right).
You've missed one. John Furbisher resigned from the Sheffield Star in February.
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