A regional daily editor and OBE is retiring after almost four decades of service with the same company.

Peter Franzen, editor of the Eastern Daily Press for the past 16 years, will leave the post in July after turning 62 this month.

He has worked for parent company Archant since 1970, then called Eastern Counties Newspapers, during which time he was also editor of the Great Yarmouth Mercury.

Peter was responsible for establishing a range of awards covering business, food and tourism and championed the paper’s support of charitable projects including a dedicated EDP charity set up to raise funds for carers of all ages.

His work was recognised in the New Year’s Honours in 2005 when he was awarded the OBE for his services to journalism.

Peter will continue to work with the company in an advisory and ambassadorial role for the company and an Archant spokeswoman said no announcement had been made yet on Peter’s replacement.

Archant Norfolk MD Stephan Phillips said: “The Eastern Daily Press has gone from strength to strength under Peter’s tenure and it has won many industry awards.

“Throughout his time at the helm, the title has always been recognised as one of the country’s leading morning dailies.

“He has overseen major changes with the title effectively and skilfully and he has earned tremendous respect and admiration from all around him.

“Peter has given great service to the Eastern Daily Press and to Norfolk and he will be an extremely hard act to follow both in the newspaper business and outside in the community.”

Peter said: “I have lived and breathed news all my working life and when you are an editor your job never stops – it is 24 hours a day and seven days a week all year round.

“It is always a hard decision to step down but there comes a time when you do want to enjoy your retirement while you are still young enough to do so.

“There is a strong team in place at the EDP and I know they will continue to deliver a quality product in the newspaper and across the EDP24 website.”

Comments

norfolk exile (28/05/2009 10:22:26)
Who are the runners and riders for the succession? Internally I presume it’s a three-way between fearsome news editor Paul Durrant, high-flying business editor Paul Hill and urbane deputy editor Peter Waters… I get the impression Archant is likely to promote from within but are there any promising external candidates?

outsider (28/05/2009 12:05:20)
Reads like a naff press release but even so: editor for 16 years who has “lived and breathed news” yet his memorable achievements are a range of awards for business, food tourism and support for charity projects. Newsy indeed.

Insider (28/05/2009 12:28:14)
Someone’s in a good mood, aren’t they Outsider?!?!?
Maybe that’s why you’re an Outsider, no? At least Archant bothered to tell the world about this instead of the usual rumour and counter rumour…..but then some people are just never happy, eh!

Cornelius Atweasle (28/05/2009 15:55:27)
Peter Franzen’s retirement is another sad day for journalism. A nice fella and a true professional. He’ll be a hard act to follow.
And for those being touted as his successor, they’d better watch out for dark horse Richard Parr.

Nigel Jarrett (29/05/2009 09:27:22)
I agree with Cornelius – Peter Franzen: a top bloke. I hope he does indeed enjoy his retirement. But Paul Durrant fearsome? No, another damn good, truly professional and inspirational journalist whom I thoroughly enjoyed working with during an all too brief sojourn as the EDP’s chief reporter in Beccles during the late 1990s. Good luck to both Peter and Paul.