News

Fagan and Crutcher out as News Limited changes editorial leadership in Queensland

David Fagan

Out: David Fagan

News Limited has announced that Queensland editorial director David Fagan and Courier Mail editor Michael Crutcher are to leave the company as part of a series of major changes to the company’s Queensland editorial leadership.

The company has not announced a replacement for Fagan, however, Chris Dore, currently editor of The Sunday Times in Perth will take up the editorship of The Courier Mail.

Gold Coast Bulletin editor Peter Gleeson will take over The Sunday Mail  from Scott Thompson, who according to the News Limited statement has been offered “a newly created editorial role in Queensland which he is currently considering”.

The associate editor of The Daily Telegraph Catherine Webber will take up the editor’s role of The Gold Coast Bulletin, while Rod Savage who has been leading News’s development of news+ digital subscriptions will move to Perth to take the editorship of The Sunday Times.

The departures of Fagan and Crutcher were first tipped in the Australian Financial Review yesterday. News Limited would not comment on when a replacement for Fagan would be named. News Limited’s CEO Kim Williams acknowledge Fagan’s contribution to the publisher over many years. “David has had a distinguished career and made a huge contribution to our company, to Australian journalism and to the people of Queensland.  We announce this decision with great regret,” said Williams.

“David has driven significant business and editorial change in Queensland.  When David took his current role as State Editorial Director a year ago we agreed his key responsibility was to oversee the transformation of our newsrooms from print to digital. David has driven this transformation in exemplary fashion.”

Fagan said, “I joined News Limited in 1983 as a journalist and rose to state editorial director overseeing some of the best newspapers in the country. I am particularly proud of the recent work I have done – along with a great team – in driving change in the newsroom, such as combining news teams, focusing on what our customers want and building new models that will sustain journalism into the future.”

Nic Christensen

Kim Williams’ message to News Limited staff:

Dear Colleagues,

I provide you with an announcement as to the Queensland editorial director, David Fagan, leaving the business.  We have made a number of consequential editorial changes as a result of the announcement.

David has had a long and distinguished career at News Limited.  He has made – as I say in the media release – a huge contribution to our company, journalism and the people of Queensland.

I announce David’s departure with regret. I thank David for all the great work he has done for our company – especially his recent work in transforming our editorial operation in Queensland. It was huge task undertaken enthusiastically.

David has ensured that six previously separate newsrooms now operate in a unified way.  He has driven the creation of one-state news room – which ensures our customers enjoy access to great depth in journalism.

I know David’s clear thinking, deep editorial and journalistic skills and his strong management skills will be missed by many people in the company.

As a result of David’s departure we are making the following editorial changes –

· Chris Dore will be appointed as editor of The Courier-Mail.  Chris was born in Queensland so he is returning to his roots.  He is one of our most talented editors. Most recently serving as editor of The Sunday Times in Perth where he has done an excellent job in reenergising the paper across print and digital.

· Peter Gleeson will be appointed editor of The Sunday Mail.  Peter has a great affinity for the local audience and with Queenslanders.   Peter has done a great job editing the Gold Coast Bulletin.

· Catherine Webber will replace Peter Gleeson as editor of the Gold Coast Bulletin.   Cath has most recently worked successfully at The Daily Telegraph as assistant editor across The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph.  She will be returning to the paper on which she started her journalism career.

· Current editor of The Sunday Mail Scott Thompson has been offered a newly created editorial role in Queensland which he is currently considering.

· Rod Savage will be appointed editor of The Sunday Times.  Rod is one of our most experienced digital editors with good print credentials as well.  He is the right choice to follow Chris Dore in ensuring the vitality of The Sunday Times and PerthNow properties.

· Current The Courier-Mail editor Mr Michael Crutcher will be leaving the business and I thank him for his contribution to the company and to its journalism.  Michael has worked well with David in driving transformation while editing The Courier- Mail.  He has editorially driven our print and digital publications and successfully launched digital subscriptions for The Courier-Mail with news+.

You can read more details about these appointments in this media release.

With every good wish,

Kim

 

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