THE award-winning editor of The Shetland Times is leaving for the editorship of an evening newspaper in England.
Jonathan Lee is to become editor of the Cumbria-based North-West Evening Mail.
And he told the MediaGuardian last week that his leaving had nothing to do with alleged staff concerns over perceived ‘tabloidisation’ of the title.
He is quoted in the MediaGuardian, saying of his move, to a post which was advertised in autumn: “It wasn’t cause and effect by any means.
“I have always wanted to be editor of an evening newspaper and an opportunity has arisen now and I am very much looking forward to it. As far as I and the [owners of The Shetland Times] are concerned, they are more than happy with the way things moved forward.”
During his two-year tenure, Lee guided his paper to the remarkable achievement of winning the Campaign of the Year category at last year’s Scottish Press Awards. It was for a successful campaign to prevent the deportation of a Thai man, Sakchai Makao. He is a former assistant editor at the Aberdeen Evening Express.
The Shetland Times enjoys the reputation of being bought by pretty much every household in its circulation area.
