THE assistant editor of The Falkirk Herald has stepped down, after over 40 years there – with a couple of spells in between at the Cumbernauld News & Kilsyth Chronicle.
Duncan McCallum has taken a voluntary redundancy, his last day at The Falkirk Herald – which he has frequently edited, when required – being yesterday.
He joined The Falkirk Herald in 1973.
A stalwart of the National Union of Journalists, McCallum is currently chair and secretary of the union’s Forth Valley branch. He has also been secretary of Falkirk Trades Union Council for nearly ten years.
It is understood he has no immediate career plans, but intends to devote some of his free time to revitalising the NUJ branch.
Anyone wishing more information about Forth Valley NUJ branch, or willing to help with its activities, are invited to email here.
* * *
AN association of media-related membership organisations was launched last night, with the aim of fostering closer links among people working in marketing communications, market research, media and publishing in Scotland.
The partners behind AMMO (the Association of Marketing and Media Organisations) are the Design Business Association, the Direct Marketing Association, the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising, the Market Research Society, the Marketing Society and the Professional Publishers Association Scotland.
The launch was addressed by Gerry Farrell (former Leith Agency creative director) and Muriel Gray (author, broadcaster and journalist).
Over 150 AMMO members attended a drinks reception at Edinburgh’s Gayfield Creative Spaces.
* * *
BEGINS Jane Martinson, in today’s Guardian: “The Sun’s backing for different parties in England and Scotland could be seen as a sign that this is an election like no other.
“And yet in some ways the Sun’s decision to support the SNP in Scotland and Tories elsewhere reflects the history of Rupert Murdoch’s ownership of Britain’s biggest-selling paper.”
Read more, here.
* * *
FROM yesterday’s annual general meeting of STV Group plc (noted yesterday on allmediascotland, here): Greig Cameron begins in The Herald: “STV chief executive, Rob Woodward, has downplayed a sharp drop in Scottish advertising revenues in the first months of the year and confirmed the company has a number of broadcast commissions in the pipeline.
“Mr Woodward said the relatively small size of the Scottish market meant fluctuations tended to be greater than in the wider, and larger, UK sector.”
Read more, here.
And from The Scotsman, Kristy Dorsey begins: “Broadcasting and media group, STV, said it was continuing to grow its market share following a “strong start” to the current financial year.
“In an update coinciding with the group’s annual meeting in Glasgow, chief executive, Rob Woodward, said national advertising revenues were up nine per cent in the first quarter.
“However, there was a 13 per cent dip in the Scottish advertising market which was blamed on ‘campaign phasing’.”
Read more, here.
* * *
SEEN anything you think readers of www.allmediascotland.com should be made aware of? Then just send the weblink to here and we’ll do the rest. All suggestions gratefully received. We’re back at noon on Monday.
