As Head of Newspapers Richard will have responsibility for the operation of the Newspaper business, including editorial leadership for all newspaper titles in the DC Thomson Media portfolio. He will also be responsible for managing the Group Newspaper functions including production and picture desk. Newspaper Editors will be supported by Richard in this role, but will retain editorial responsibility for their own titles.
The newspaper portfolio includes The Press and Journal and Evening Express based in Aberdeen, The Courier and Evening Telegraph based in Dundee and the only Scottish-owned national title in the country, The Sunday Post.
Mike Watson, Chief Executive Officer of DC Thomson Media, said, “Newspapers are a crucial part of our core business and we’ve got a great team in place that deliver some of the country’s best selling regional dailies. Richard is highly experienced in the newspaper industry and I’m confident that this change to structure will only add to the quality of content we provide thousands of readers with every day.”
Following Richard’s appointment, Catriona MacInnes has been confirmed as Editor of The Courier following just over a year as Acting Editor. Catriona becomes the only female editor of a daily newspaper in Scotland.
In Aberdeen Alan McCabe will take on the role of Editor-in-Chief of Aberdeen. Alan will head up the newspaper editorial teams across The Press and Journal and Evening Express, and will take on the role of Editor of The Press and Journal. Craig Walker remains Editor of The Evening Express and Richard Prest will continue to be Editor of the Sunday Post.
David Knight, Deputy Editor of The Press and Journal, is retiring after 25 years with the paper. Andrew Kellock, current Editor of the Evening Telegraph in Dundee, will take on the role following David’s departure.
David Lord, currently Deputy Editor of The Courier, will take up the position of Editor of The Evening Telegraph, with Bryan Copland, Assistant Editor of the Evening Telegraph stepping up to become Deputy Editor.
All of those in new roles will take up their positions at the beginning of January.
Richard Neville, Head of Newspapers for DC Thomson Media, said, “This is an exciting time for newspapers and I am pleased to have been given the opportunity to drive the newspaper business forward. While the challenges we face as an industry remain, we’ve got a skilled team in place that understands its readers and we will continue to deliver quality newspapers to communities across Scotland. These changes demonstrate our commitment to our newspapers and the teams that work on them.”
