18/07/2008

Breaking news (11.20am): The editor of The Herald newspaper has resigned.

Charles McGhee became Herald editor in January two years ago, and is leaving after ten years at the Herald group of newspapers, having edited sister title, the Evening Times, for six years and been consultant editor for the launch of the Sunday Herald between 1998 and 1999.

These last few years at the group have seen various waves of voluntary redundancy take place, as its publishers, Newsquest, seek to cut costs, against a backdrop of falling circulations.

In a statement, McGhee, a former president of the UK Society of Editors and member of Britain’s press watchdog, the Press Complaints Commission, said: “It has been a tremendous challenge to have worked on all three titles in the group, helping to launch one and editing the two others. In particular, it has been a privilege to edit The Herald, now celebrating its 225th year as Scotland’s leading quality daily newspaper, and to work with some of the country’s finest journalists during a period of great transformational change in print and online publishing.

“I remain passionate and optimistic about the role of newspapers in the multi-media age and I would now like to apply the experience I have gained over 30 years to some of the broader challenges within the media sector, both nationally and internationally. Until then, however, my primary focus and commitment remains with The Herald and its readers.” 

McGhee’s career in journalism spans newspapers, broadcasting and magazines, at home and abroad. After several years with the BBC, he went on to hold senior editorial executive positions on UK and Scottish national newspapers, including Today, The Sunday Times, Scotland on Sunday and the Daily Record.

Said Herald and Times Group managing director, Tim Blott: “Charles has been a tremendous editor and ambassador for the company. I thank him for all he has done for us and wish him every success in the future. We will appoint a successor in due course.”

Says James Doherty, the Glasgow-based president of the National Union of Journalists: "If Charles McGhee has resigned over the budget cuts he has had to oversee, he will be applauded by every journalist, not only at Newsquest, but throughout the UK. I hope it is a principled stand he has taken, that there comes a point where further budget cuts become unacceptable if you are wanting a newspaper to thrive. If it is, it will send shock waves around the industry."

Comment: Could it be that Charlie McGhee’s resignation does have an element of principle attached to it? Speculation is that Newsquest is pondering how to diminish the existing staff pension deal and that further job/cost cuts could come as early as September/October of this year. What self-respecting editor could continue to oversee the systematic destruction of these once-proud products? If there is anyone left in the Gannett/Newsquest management that actually cares about the survival of The Herald and its related titles, this is probably their last chance to make an appointment that can rescue them. Scotland is crying out for a national voice – a role once occupied by The Herald. With a new, ambitious editor and the financial backing from the parent companies, it could be again. The more than likely alternative is the appointment of someone who will accept the company’s every whim and oversee the death throes. David Sinclair.