This bulletin brings you a selection of the most important changes made in Mediadisk in the last week.
All of these changes are available in Mediadisk. If you have any queries or additional information, please contact our research team at research.europe@cision.com or call 0870 736 0010 - International: +44 (0)1494 797225
- Educational overseas expedition provider World Challenge has appointed Ben Morton as Head of HR and Training and Helen Guyver as Head of Marketing. Ben has worked within World Challenge for the last two years with the responsibility of developing a team to recruit Expedition Leaders. Ben’s new role will see him combine the role of Head of HR and Training with the management of the Leader Management team. Helen, who formerly worked for gap travel provider Real Gap, will be responsible for all on and off-line marketing, events and communications for World Challenge as well as developing the on-line side of the business as part of a full marketing review. For more information email findoutmore@world-challenge.co.uk or call 01494 427650
National Newspapers
- On 18th April The Guardian raised its cover price by 10 pence from £1.60 to £1.70
- Following Social Affairs Correspondent Jimmy Burns' departure from the Financial Times, James Boxell has moved to the Home Affairs Correspondent post. Oliver Ralph, currently Editor of FT Group's Investors Chronicle, will fill James' former role as Deputy of UK Companies. Oliver will be joining the UK Companies desk next month. James and Oliver can be can be contacted at james.boxell@ft.com and oliver.ralph@ft.com respectively
- Tim Shipman, former Washington Correspondent for The Sunday Telegraph, recently joined the Daily Mail as Deputy Political Editor and can be contacted at tim.shipman@dailymail.co.uk
- Following Tim Shipman’s departure to the Daily Mail, Leonard Doyle is covering as Washington Correspondent for The Sunday Telegraph. Leonard is contactable at leonard.doyle@telegraph.co.uk
- At The Independent, New York Correspondent David Usborne has become US Editor following Leonard Doyle’s move to The Sunday Telegraph. David remains contactable at dusborne@aol.com
- At The Sunday Times Matt Tench started as Deputy Sports Editor last week and can be contacted on matt.tench@sunday-times.co.uk. The appointment follows Nick Greenslade’s change of role to Deputy Sports Editor (Regions). Nick is still based in London and can be contacted at nick.greenslade@sunday-times.co.uk
- The Scott Trust has named Amelia Fawcett as Chair of Guardian Media Group, parent company of The Guardian and The Observer. Amelia’s appointment follows the resignation of Paul Myners in October
Regional Newspapers - People Moves
- The Evening Standard has appointed former Executive Editor of the Daily Mail John Bryant as Chairman of the Editorial Committee. The committee will be responsible for ‘’safeguarding the editorial independence of the newspaper, following its acquisition by Alexander Lebedev in February’’. John, also Chairman of the Press Association Trust, will be joined by Political Commentator and former Editor of the New Statesman Anthony Howard and writer, critic and former Deputy Editor of the Daily Mirror Bill Hagerty. John can be contacted at john.bryant@standard.co.uk
- Wes Smith left his post as Deputy Editor of the Biggleswade Chronicle last week with no replacement. Editor James Stewart can be contacted at jim.stewart@bedsnews.com
Stops and Starts
- On 15th April Newsquest Specialist Media Ltd launched Fighting Fit, a magazine covering boxing, mixed martial arts, judo, taekwondo, karate and thai boxing. The title contains advice from experts concerning strength, power, nutrition, fitness and psychology as well as interviews from some of the leading fighters in the world. A lifestyle section is also featured covering gyms, product reviews and articles on trends in the industry. Tris Dixon edits the title and can be contacted at tris.dixon@fightingfitmagazine.co.uk
- On 23rd April Full House, a weekly women’s interest magazine with a mixture of real-life stories, entertainment, puzzles and competitions, relaunched with a new look including a new section entitled "Beat the Credit Crunch". The title has also reduced its cover price by 18p from 68p to 50p. Commissioning Editor Johanna Burrows can be contacted at johanna.burrows@fullhousemagazine.co.uk
People Moves
- As a result of Hearst digital’s cost reduction review several changes have been announced across the National Magazine Company that will be in place by the end of May. Cosmopolitan magazine's Publishing Director Justine Southall and Editor Louise Court will once again manage cosmopolitan.co.uk with Kate Creasey remaining in her role as Editor. getlippy.com, a website covering fashion, beauty, celebrity, relationships and entertainment, will become joint responsibility of Company’s Publishing Director Meribeth Parker and Editor Victoria White. Clare Gill will remain as Editor of the site. Furthermore, NatMag has created a new business group comprising Zest magazine and netdoctor.co.uk. Publishing Director of Runner's World and Triathletes' World Steven Seaton has been named Publishing Director for this group. Subsequently, netdoctor.co.uk's current Publisher Bal Singh will become Editorial and Digital Development Director. Following these changes Hearst digital will move from its offices in Swallow Place to the NatMag print business at 72 Broadwick Street, London W1F 9EP. In addition, Alex Ballantyne will be leaving his post as Managing Director of Hearst digital
- At the end of April the New Statesman will lose Deputy and Managing Editor Sue Matthias. Sue will join The Guardian as Acting Editor of Weekend magazine for six months to cover the maternity leave of Editor Merope Mills. Until her departure Sue remains contactable at sue@newstatesman.co.uk
- Marketing Week, a magazine covering major marketing and advertising information, published its first new look edition on 23rd April. The title’s website, which is due to relaunch in June, will feature news resulting in the magazine containing more feature and case study based content. New Editor Mark Chouke is leading the changes assisted by a newly appointed team of journalists. The new editorial team sees Associate Editor for Features Ruth Mortimer manage Jo Roberts, Joe Fernandez and Louise Jack. Former Editor of Mad.co.uk Branwell Johnson is now Associate Editor of a team of News Reporters including Russell Parsons, Camille Alarcon and Mary-Louise Clews. The new columnists consist of Chief Marketing Officer of Unilever Simon Clift, media expert Raymond Snoddy, founder of Limelight Susanna Simpson and CEO of Commercial Advantage Aidan Bocci. Stuart Smith, Alan Mitchell, Ruth Mortimer, Michael Nutley and Andrew Harrison remain at the title from the former team. Changes to the magazine include the addition of an occasional Profile section, starting with Unilever’s Chief Marketing Officer Simon Clift, and a new Head2Head section using a panel of marketers to question the profile subject. Furthermore, the trends section will now feature The Frontline, a section asking three or four marketers in the sector that the market research deals with if and how the findings match their experience in reality. Editor Mark Choueke can be contacted at mark.choueke@centaur.co.uk
Stops and Starts
- Following Wilmington announcing the closure of Press Gazette on 6th April, the title has been rescued by Progressive Media. The buyout sees both the online and printed formats continue to publish with the printed May issue expected to go out a few days late as a result of the change over
People Moves
- People Management, a magazine providing news, analysis and opinion on the latest developments in business, government and professional practice, welcomed Claire Churchard as News and Features Writer on 17th April. Claire can be contacted at claire.churchard@peoplemanagement.co.uk. Furthermore, Michelle Stevens has replaced Sophie Gorton as Editorial Assistant and can be contacted at michelle.stevens@peoplemanagement.co.uk
- At MRW, Reporter Liz Gyekye will be promoted to Senior Reporter on 1st May following Senior Reporter Claire Churchard’s move to People Management. Liz can be contacted at liz.gyekye@emap.com. Additionally, Tiffany Holland has joined as Reporter to replace Liz’s former role and can be contacted at tiffany.holland@emap.com
- Investors Chronicle, a weekly magazine aimed at UK stock market investors, will see Editor Oliver Ralph leave in May to join the Financial Times as Deputy of UK Companies. A successor has not been named as yet. Deputy Editor Rosemary Carr can be contacted at rosie.carr@ft.com
Broadcast
National Broadcast – People Moves
- At ITV Michael Grade has stepped down from his role as Chief Executive. The company has announced he will remain with them as Chairman and they will begin the process of appointing a replacement
- Controller of Current Affairs and Documentaries Jeff Anderson has been cut from ITV after 25 years. As a result of Jeff’s departure, Ian Squires has been named as the new Controller of Regions and Current Affairs. Ian’s responsibilties will include ITV's regional operation, including regional news, and for commissioning network current affairs output for ITV's channels
Regional Broadcast - People Moves
- Michael Jackson has been named as Scottish broadcaster STV’s Non-Executive Director. Michael formerly held the position of Channel 4’s Chief Executive before his move to work in the US media
- It has been announced Liz and Cameron will no longer present the weekday afternoon show on 96.3 Radio Aire. Rich Williams, better known as "Monkey Boy" from Simon Logan’s breakfast show, will replace them on the 15:00 to 19:00 slot
- On 20th April Rose Aston left her post as Assistant Editor of BBC Shropshire to become Managing Editor of BBC Wiltshire. In her role as Assistant Editor of BBC Shropshire Rose worked within a team that won awards for local news coverage, faith broadcasting and work in the community
- Alex Zane is to leave his weekday breakfast show slot on Global Radio’s X FM. Ian Camfield, whose weekday afternoon show airs between 12:00 and 16:00, will take over from Alex today, 24th April and will broadcast between 07:00 and 11:00. Subsequently, Richard Skinner will move his weekday show from 09:00 to between 13:00 to 11:00 and 15:00
Irish Republic
- RTE has launched a new catch-up TV service on its website, located at www.rte.ie/player. Irish broadband users can now access RTE television shows from between seven to twenty one days after they are broadcast. RTE have entitled the service "click and play," as it requires no registration, installation or download
- Robert Couldwell is a freelance journalist and member of The Guild of Motoring Writers and Southern Group of Motoring Writers. He regularly contributes to The Argus, Audi Driver, Business First, Business Traveller, Classic Cars For Sale, Driving Magazine, Fleet World, Professional Driver and Van Fleet World. Robert can be contacted at robert@couldwell.eu
- Jakob Ebrey is a freelance photographer and member of The Guild of Motoring Writers. He has a specialist interest in motor sport photography, especially for Renault, Vauxhall, Pirelli and the British Rally Championships and regularly contributes to Autosport and Motorsport News. Jakob’s website is located at http://www.jakobebrey.com and he can be contacted at jakob@jakobebrey.com
- John Caine is a freelance journalist with a specialist interest in politics. He is a member of the International Federation of Journalists and Writers Guild of Great Britain and regularly contributes to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Daily Mail and The Independent as well as occasionally to The Guardian and The Sunday Times. John’s website is located at http://www.johncaine.net and he can be contacted at mail@johncaine.net
- Alan Castle is a freelance journalist and photographer with a specialist interest in backpacking and mountain trekking. He is a member of The Outdoor Writers' and Photographers' Guild and has a specialist knowledge of France (the Alps, Cevennes, Massif Central, Ardennes and Brittany), California, Rhine, Corsica, the Pyrenees and Scotland. Alan can be contacted at Corehead House, Annan Water, Moffat DG10 9LT
- Kel Edge is a freelance journalist, photographer and member of The Guild of Motoring Writers. He regularly contributes to Bike, Cycle News, Cycle World, Fast Bikes, La Moto, Moto 73, RIDING SPORT, Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology, SPORT-BIKES, Two Wheels and mc-nytt. Kel can be contacted at Kel.Edge@gmail.com
- Robin Hall is a freelance journalist and photographer with a specialist interest in technical aspects of radio electronics and equipment, and the development of digital radio. He edits the UK Radio Equipment Guide Annual and also occasionally contributes to Monitoring Monthly and Practical Wireless. Robin can be contacted at 12 Britannia Gardens, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 8BN
- Robert Hall is a freelance journalist with a specialist interest in football, specifically the Premier League and London Clubs. He is an Associate Member of The Cricket Writers' Club and Member of the Football Writer's Association. Robert can be contacted at newsdesk@thepressbureau.com
- Tim Hampson is a freelance journalist, photographer and member of The British Guild of Beer Writers. He has a specialist interest in the use of IT in local and central government and edits Town Hall as well as regularly contributing to The Guardian, Local Government IT In Use, Morning Advertiser, UKAuthorITy.com and What's Brewing. Tim can be contacted at tim@infopub.co.uk
The fundamentals of working with bloggers are the same as with traditional journalists at traditional media outlets: respect their schedules; take time to read their material to learn their interests; and only contact them if/when they want to be contacted.
- Telegraph Blogs - Shane Richmond is a blog covering media, technology and blogging. Author Shane Richmond is Communities Editor of Telegraph.co.uk and can be contacted at shane.richmond@telegraph.co.uk
- gadgetlite blog covers gadgets, technologies, websites, mobile phones and inventions. It features subjects such as automotives to aerospace, handheld devices to supercomputers and robotics to home automation. The site is contactable via an online comments form
- The billblog is a blog covering information on technology and digital culture. Journalist, Commentator and Technology Critic Bill Thompson pens the site and can be contacted at bill@andfinally.com
- Darren Straight’s blog is a site covering IT and technology. Darren is an ICT Technician and can be contacted at darrenstraight@hotmail.com
- bits.blogs.nytimes.com is a blog providing a steady stream of news and analysis on the technology industry. The site is contactable via BitsFeedback@nytimes.com
- Adam's Weblog is a blog covering radio, media and technology. Adam Bowie authors the site and can be contacted via twitter account - @adambowie