THE publisher of the Daily Record and Sunday Mail newspapers has unveiled a new team of regional and title editors for its local newspapers in Scotland.
Says Media Scotland, in a media release: “This is the latest step in stabilising and growing the portfolio of 17 local titles which includes the UK’s most successful regional daily, the Paisley Daily Express.”
And group editor for all the local titles, Alan Woodison, is quoted, as saying: “Every town needs a strong, vibrant local newspaper – and every newspaper needs an editor. For the first time in a long time, our readers will have both.”
The titles have been recently undergoing a design and editorial revamp.
The new line-up is as follows:
John Hutcheson remains as editor of the Paisley Daily Express.
John Rowbotham, after 30 years at the Hamilton Advertiser, moves to his home city of Stirling, from where he will edit the bi-weekly Stirling Observer. His remit as regional editor takes in the Dumbarton local title, the Lennox Herald. The new editor of the Lennox Herald is Amanda Graham.
Alan Woodison is regional editor in Ayrshire. The new appointments in the region are Cheryl McEvoy, editor, Ayrshire Post; Craig Robertson, editor, Kilmarnock Standard; and Lorraine Howard, editor, Irvine Herald.
John Murdoch is regional editor in Lanarkshire and Lothian. The new appointments in the region are Gordon Robertson, editor, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser; Marjorie Kerr, editor, West Lothian Courier; Bob Mitchell, editor, Wishaw Press; Louise Reilly, editor, East Kilbride News; and Kenny Smith, editor, Rutherglen Reformer. A new editor will be shortly appointed at the Hamilton Advertiser.
Alison Lowson is regional editor in Perthshire. She will continue to edit the bi-weekly Perthshire Advertiser. The new appointment in the region is Johnathon Menzies, editor, Blairgowrie Advertiser & Strathearn Herald.
Kenny Barr is the regional editor in Dumfries. He will continue to edit the bi-weekly Dumfries & Galloway Standard. The new appointment in the region is Iain Pollock, editor, Galloway News.
The media release also quotes Allan Rennie, Media Scotland editor-in-chief, as saying: “We know from talking to readers and advertisers that the local titles were strong and well respected in their circulation areas. Each paper needed an individual to act as a figurehead, both among the staff and in the wider community. We already had good people who could do the job – and so finding editors wasn’t difficult. I am looking forward to working with them all in growing Media Scotland at all levels of the business.”
Media Scotland was created in January last when publishers Trinity Mirror merged the Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail with sister company, Scottish and Universal Newspapers.
