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From trainee to editor in under three years

A young journalist who joined a weekly title as a trainee reporter less than three years ago has been made its editor.

Hayley Parker has been appointed as editor of the Post and Times Series, in Staffordshire, and officially took up her new role today.

The job encompasses the editorship of the Leek Post and Times, Uttoxeter Post and
Times
and the Cheadle Post and Times and includes responsibility for five reporters and a sports editor.

Hayley takes over from Rob Cotterill, who has returned to daily sister title The Sentinel, where he was previously news editor, to take on another senior role.

Said Hayley: “I was delighted to be chosen for the job. It’s a massive step up for me but it’s gone well so far.”

After joining the Uttoxeter Post and Times as a trainee in early 2007, she qualified as a senior reporter this time last year after passing her NCE exam.

Sentinel editor-in-chief Mike Sassi said: “Hayley is an excellent young journalist who has worked hard to achieve this promotion. I’m certain the P&T will prosper under her leadership.”

Comments

biter (30/11/2009 11:12:22)
Bit of a pointless story without putting her age in really.

HoldtheFrontPage (30/11/2009 11:29:21)
Sorry, but why?
The point of the story is that Hayley has become an editor after less than three years in journalism. It makes no difference whether she’s 25 or 45.

Emma (30/11/2009 12:06:37)
Her age IS relevant – it underscores the trainee-to-editor achievement because although it is impressive enough if she’s 45, it’s double-impressive if she’s 23 or similar. The reason is that the achievement has been made outside the age range that is normally associated with such a career trajectory. A perfect working example of how to apply those pesky PCC Code Of Practice considerations.

AJ (30/11/2009 12:06:41)
It’s obvious why. You call here a young reporter. If she was 45 she wouldn’t be a young reporter, would she?

John (30/11/2009 13:06:59)
Agreed. All the way through that story I was thinking ‘how old is she?’. Important information missed.

HoldtheFrontPage (30/11/2009 13:19:46)
Okay, sorry you all feel this way, but we don’t make a habit of using peoples’ ages in stories (except in obituaries) and we didn’t feel an exception should be made in this case. The description ‘young journalist’ was used in the intro and synopsis because that is how her editor-in-chief described her.

journo (30/11/2009 13:26:10)
Er isn’t it basic journalism to put in someone’s age? It is entirely relevant and I cannot believe there is even an argument about this.
So how old is she then?

ExExpress (30/11/2009 13:26:40)
The point,surely, is not her age but the fact that you can now become an editor in three years. She must have had one hell of a mentor, or be an amazing journo/human being, to pick up the nuances of journalism, management and leadership in such a short time.
It IS a brilliant achievement, nevertheless. But being a great reporter does not make you a great editor. Good luck Hayley,

Onlooker (30/11/2009 14:23:21)
The whole point of the story is that she has become an editor at such a young age. It seems potty to then either leave her age out or forget to ask it. From her picture, she could be anything from 16 to 30. I think a dressing down from the newsdesk is in order, HTTP.

Subbo (30/11/2009 14:28:16)
Hayley, put us out of our misery. How old are you ?