Comments on: Long-serving staff head for exit as daily prepares to go weekly

By: peter lazenby

peter lazenby — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:33:50 +0000

There’s a history of Johnston Press, a book called “Life is Local.” It was written by Edward Riley, former editor of the Halifax Courier. JP’s commitment to the “local” principle had been abandoned. The Hebden Bridge Times and Todmorden News offices are in or near the centre of their communities, ideal for local people to pop in with small ads, chat to people like my friend Norman about a news story, an event, a rumour. In fact the offices were ideal for their purpose – local contact. Now JP are shutting them and we’re losing journalists who have dedicated their lives to serving their communities. Meanwhile the JP directors stick their greedy snouts in the trough for more bonuses. Sickening.

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By: hawkeye

hawkeye — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:28:26 +0000

The pay of executives is obscene. nothing they do justifies it. So many poor decisions still crippling JP and people still taking massive wages. To paraphrase Toff Cameron “not all of us are in it together”.

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By: Martin Robinson, Leeds

Martin Robinson, Leeds — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:39:53 +0000

I worked with Dick Porter on the YP before he left to go to the Courier.
A real professional and a nice guy. Best wishes for the future Dick.

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By: Chris Thorpe

Chris Thorpe — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:37:18 +0000

I worked with both Dick Porter, Diane Crabtree and Virginia Mason for a number of years at the Halifax Courier, before I was made redundant in 2010. They are all amazingly good at what they do – and fun people to work with. It’s a shame that there are more jobs going at what was once a fantastic place to work for.
I hope that everyone else that is left (not many) at the Courier are going to be okay in these tough times.

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By: JP hack

JP hack — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:31:04 +0000

I thought features were meant to be at the heart of the brave new JP newspaper world? Good luck Virginia!

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By: Flying Scotsman

Flying Scotsman — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:06:34 +0000

The years of experience in these staff is something which have probably kept papers like the Courier and Hebden Bridge Times ticking over for so long. The inimitable Norman Masters and people like Virginia who had done so much to help promote the good of Halifax and Calderdale and the many ambitious plans to revitalise the towns means that their going will be felt far beyond King Cross Street and Crown Street.

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By: Can I quote you?

Can I quote you? — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:12:24 +0000

No name check here for a former colleague of mine, Virginia Mason, the Courier’s features’ writer and columnist for 15 years. Her job is gone in the shake-up and I know she is desperately sad to be taking redundancy. Happy memories at Sheffield’s Richmond College in our NCTJ training days, Virginia! All the best

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By: Curious

Curious — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:39:50 +0000

Timing is everything with redundo. If you are 60-plus, walking out of the door with a half-decent wedge is a dream come true for many.
Some people never want to retire but I’d have been doing cartwheels around the office had I lasted another few years and got within touching distance of my not-too-badly reduced pension.
So for the senior individuals involved here, it may not be the sad departure portrayed.
But for anyone under 60, these are scary times as editorial jobs are like hen’s teeth (unless you live in London or have B2B expertise).
I hope the timing was right for the senior trio above – while of course lamenting the loss of jobs and the vacancies/promotions people may aspire too.

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By: Dan Depan

Dan Depan — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:52:55 +0000

Interesting that the editor should consider that closing the Hebden Bridge (and Todmorden) offices and moving all the staff to Halifax left Hebden Bridge “unaffected”.
Good luck to all those going, even more so to those staying behind.

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By: Liz Carnell

Liz Carnell — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:57:01 +0000

Very sorry Dick Porter is leaving. I worked with him on the subs’ desk at the YEP for a number of years. He’s one of the nicest, most talented production editors in the business and great fun as well. xxx

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