14/08/2007

One of the elder statesmen of Scottish journalism has had the smooth run-up to his 65th birthday interrupted by being made redundant.

Harry Conroy has been given three months notice as editor of the Scottish Catholic Observer newspaper, which he has been at the helm of for almost seven years.

The former Daily Record crime reporter, and general-secretary of the National Union of Journalists, will be leaving the weekly newspaper at the end of October.

Currently, the paper has four full-time members of staff, including Harry, and boasts a circulation of 16,000. There’s also a reporter, a reporter/sub-editor and a sub-editor. It is due to be re-launched in April - the same month as Conroy reaches his 65th birthday.

Conroy has written several books and was a campaign director for the Scottish Constitutional Convention.

He told Spike: “Obviously, I am going to be back in the market and will be looking for another position. I am not thinking of retirement; I think I have a few more books and stories in me - preferably stories about other people rather than myself.”

The Scottish Catholic Observer is owned by the London-based Catholic Herald. Asked who might succeed Conroy and whether they will be based in Scotland, publishing director, Andy Leisinger said: “We are currently considering our plans for the Scottish Catholic Observer and have a number of exciting options.”

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