Major staff re-shuffle at Herald

A PRETTY major re-shuffle of staff as taken place at The Herald newspaper, and not just prompted by the recent departures of chief sportswriter, Graham Spiers, and columnist and senior assistant editor, Melanie Reid – both headed for the soon-to-launch revamped Scottish edition of The Times.

Magnus Llewellin will move from news editor to the position of senior assistant editor, with responsibility for overseeing the development of multi-media news input and, says an internal memo, “a range of editorial executive responsibilities”.

Barclay McBain is appointed managing editor, with responsibility for leaders, letters, obituaries, personnel, the Press Complaints Commission and legal issues.

Lucy Adams is appointed chief reporter.

David Leask is appointed Home Affairs correspondent.

As reported recently on Spike, The Scotsman’s education correspondent, Kevin Schofield, is appointed Scottish Political correspondent, to succeed Sunday Times Scotland-bound Tom Gordon.

Anne Johnstone becomes a columnist as well as leader writer.

As also reported recently on Spike, Hugh MacDonald, deputy sports editor, is appointed to a new roving role as chief sportswriter.

James Porteous is appointed to deputy sports editor.

Gordon Stevenson is appointed to sports production editor.

Mark Wilson and Martin Greig are appointed senior sports writers “with an extended brief”.

A replacement news editor, senior sports sub-editor, and new columnist have still to be appointed.