THE Sunday Post newspaper has substantially restructured its editorial team.
The changes – made by editor-in-chief, Donald Martin – follows the departure of the paper’s long-serving deputy, Alastair Bennett, at the end of last month.
Iain Harrison, who had been news editor, has been promoted to assistant editor and is now in charge of the newspaper’s news and sport operation. The appointment caps a meteoric rise for Harrison who was a senior reporter only 18 months ago.
He will be joined by The Herald’s group production editor, Andy Clark, the new assistant editor in charge of production and digital.
Along with head of content, Dawn Donaghey, who is in charge of features, they will form a three-strong executive team reporting directly to Martin.
And the paper – named Newspaper of the Year at last year’s Scottish Press Awards – has moved fast to fill the vacant news editor’s post by appointing Craig Jackson.
A former senior reporter on The Scottish Sun and news editor of The News of the World, he is currently serving his notice as news editor at The Edinburgh Evening News.
The Sunday Post has also appointed Jeremy Bayston as its new picture editor.
He held a similar role at The Sunday Times Scotland and, prior to that, was deputy picture editor at The Sunday Times in London.
Meanwhile, former Wishaw Press staffer, Euan McLelland, has joined the newspaper as a reporter. And former Scottish Sun designer, Chris Donnan, has also joined.
Leaving The Sunday Post will be reporters Rachel Ryan and Robert Wight, with the latter soon to become editor of the Scots Magazine.
Also departing is Rod Cameron, deputy editor of The Sunday Post’s sister title, The Weekly News, after more than 40 years on the title.
He has been replaced by Billy Higgins – as reported here on allmediascotland.com.
The news is announced on the website of the publisher, DC Thomson, here.
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THE Scots comms agency, Stripe Communications, has been hired to handle the public relations for the Europe Music Awards hosted by MTV – as announced in a media release posted on allmediascotland.com, here.
Says the release, the win followed a competitive tender. The MTV EMA’s are taking place in Glasgow, in November.
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A SPORTS reporter is being sought by The Press and Journal newspaper – as advertised here on allmediascotland.
Also being advertised on the site is a vacancy for a social media officer, at Police Scotland – here.
And a PR and social media consultant is being sought by Scots digital agency, Equator – as advertised here.
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AN one-day international cricket match between Scotland and England – taking place next month – is reportedly to be broadcast on Sky Sports.
Writes William Dick and Stuart Clarke, in today’s Scotsman (here): “The eagerly-anticipated sell-out fixture at Aberdeenshire’s Mannofield will see the Scots go for their first ever victory against a Test-playing country in an official ODI.”
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Begins the Glasgow-based The Drum media and marketing magazine: “The Drum has won award for media innovation award and its publisher, Carnyx, has also picked up a prize today on the back of a bumper year.
“The accolade was announced at the Digital Media Innovation Conference in London, held by the Software and Information Industry Association, and praised The Drum’s business strategy for delivering ‘its most successful year ever’.”
Read more, here.
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A HANDFUL of Scots names feature in the extensive shortlist of the UK-wide ‘excellence awards’ run by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations – as revealed here.
The winners are named on June 17.
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NOTES of interest are being sought about a possible media hub in Edinburgh – comprising hot-desking facilities, office space and maybe even a cafe/speaker space.
Email here to register any interest.
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THE funeral of a former picture editor at The Scotsman is taking place on Friday, in Edinburgh.
Stewart Boyd died last week, aged 73.
It’s understood he was picture editor at The Scotsman until 1992.
Says a notice in the paper: “A celebration of Stewart’s life will be held at Mortonhall Crematorium, Main Chapel, Edinburgh, EH16 6TX, on Friday, April 11, at 12 noon. Family flowers only please. Donations to Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh and/or Dunbar branch RNLI.”
Update, April 29 2014: an obituary on nuj.org.uk, by Chris Reekie.
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THE Scotsman’s arts correspondent, Brian Ferguson, has been named among the top journalists in the UK for their use of twitter and social media.
He appears in a 50-strong listing compiled by the trade website, Press Gazette, along with fellow Scots, David Leask (chief correspondent, The Herald), Stuart Campbell, who runs the pro-Scots independence website, Wings Over Scotland, and Laura Kuenssberg (chief correspondent and presenter on BBC Newsnight).
No.1 in the list was Peter Jukes, an author and journalist who has been tweeting from the ‘hacking trial’ involving, among others, the former chief executive of the newspapers publisher, News International, Rebekah Brooks, at the Old Bailey court in London.
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THE Glasgow-based media consultancy, Spreng & Co, has reportedly been taken on by the governing body for Scottish cricket, ahead of an upcoming date in the men’s cricket world cup.
Says The Drum media and marketing magazine: “Cricket Scotland has appointed Spreng & Co as its official media relations partner in the run-up to the ICC World Cup.”
It continues: “The Cricket Scotland account will be run by Spreng & Co PR director, Kirstin Stevenson, who will work closely alongside Cricket Scotland communications manager, Ben Fox.”
Stevenson is a former PR manager at STV.
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