27/08/2008

Former Sunday Herald editor, Andrew Jaspan, has been sacked as editor-in-chief of the Melbourne newspaper, The Age, a day after the company announced 550 job cuts.

The owners are quoted saying: "The company has decided that for this next critical stage of The Age we would have fresh editorial and executive leadership.”

The job cuts are reported to be because of a tightening advertising market and pressure on newspaper classifieds.

Jaspan - also a former editor of Scotland on Sunday, The Scotsman and The Observer - is believed to have signed off to his colleagues with an entitled That's All Folks!: "I will come and bid my adieu on the floor at 12noon."

He told one regular contributor to allmediascotland.com: "Four years is an age in journalism. They wanted to push through 90 staff cuts and didn't think I would be the person to do it. So that's fine. I'm off to lie on a beach. I am not sure what I am going to do next, but I am open to ideas."

Read more, here.

Comment: You might want to add this: "I would like to announce changes to the Editorial management of The Age, effective immediately.
"I wish to report that Andrew Jaspan will no longer be Editor In Chief. Andrew has been a highly successful editor. He has delivered great papers and has done a magnificent job in reinvigorating The Age. He has our thanks and appreciation for all he has achieved in the past four years. Under Andrew's editorship, The Age benefited from an innovative redesign and consistent, strong growth in circulation and readership, and agenda-setting journalism. The Age was named Newspaper of the Year by PANPA in 2007, one of the industry's highest honours. "The company is discussing with Andrew the ways his skills and expertise can be made available within the company.
"The company has decided that for this next critical stage of The Age we would have fresh editorial and executive leadership.
"I am pleased to advise that Paul Ramadge will be appointed Acting Editor-in-Chief of The Age.
In the capacity of Acting Editor In Chief, Paul will be responsible for the day to day management of The Age, the State’s leading quality newspaper. He will also manage the restructure of editorial operations as part of a recently announced company-wide transformation plan.
"Paul has outstanding experience in journalism, as a reporter, editor and leader. Since joining The Age as night editor in 1996, Paul has held the positions of assistant editor (news), executive editor and Saturday editor. He also edited the newspaper's inspirational and Walkley Award-winning coverage of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Paul Ramadge was appointed senior deputy editor in December 2005.
"The editorial leadership team have my highest confidence. I know they will excel in leading the editorial staff of The Age to ensure The Age's continuing success.
The company will soon be making a permanent appointment to the role of Editor In Chief."
Don Churchill - Chief Executive & Publisher - Vic Metropolitan & Community Publishing.

Comment: Jaspan for The Herald editorship - with Charles McGhee going?


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