An award-winning journalist who headed up Wales’s biggest-selling paper and became chief examiner at the NCTJ has been made redundant after 28 years.
Cathy Duncan, pictured, was acting editor of the South Wales Evening Post for five months before Jonathan Roberts, the former editor of the Carmarthen Journal, was appointed to the post permanently earlier this year.
She joined the Post as a sub-editor 28 years ago, going on to become chief sub-editor in 1993. She became assistant editor under George Edwards, who retired in 2007, and stepped up to the top job temporarily when Spencer Feeney retired in September last year.
But the role of deputy editor has now been axed and today is Cathy’s final day.
She told HTFP she has not got anything concrete to move on to, adding: “I will miss my colleagues like mad. We had a great time together.”
Cathy joined the NCTJ board in 2004, and in 2008 was awarded the NCTJ Chairman’s Award for her outstanding contribution to journalism training and education, both at the Post and through the council itself.
South West Wales Media managing director Tony Dowling confirmed her role would not be filled.
“Cathy is a hugely influential figure in the newsrooms of South West Wales, and in my short time working with her I learned enormous respect for her ability and professionalism,” he told HTFP.
“I and the rest of the management team, who have had the advantage of working with her a lot longer than I did, and indeed the rest of the company, will no doubt miss her wisdom and direction immensely.”
In an announcement to staff about her departure, he also paid tribute to the work she had done while at the paper, and said the training of young journalists was always one of her strengths.
“Many of our current wave of young journalists have Cathy to thank for overseeing their training and development – a role which led her to become an NCTJ chief examiner,” he said.
“She can also been credited with creating new links with the community, which resulted in the Post’s annual prestigious Pride Awards and the Christmas Cheer Party for deserving children.”
A leaving do will be held for Cathy on July 19.
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Good luck, Cathy. Very much enjoyed working with you on training over the years. You have made a lot of difference to a lot of people.
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Inside 24 hours, two relatively inexperienced (not their fault) journalists are appointed as editors by the company which then makes Cathy Duncan redundant. If this doesn’t tell everyone about the lack of value Local World places on journalism then nothing else will. When it comes to respect for journalists, they truly know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
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Welcome to our world. Former Editor of 15 years made redundant after 40 years service. Very sorry to hear that
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“…respect for her ability and professionalism …… will no doubt miss her wisdom and direction….”
Well, how about not making her redundant – then you wouldn’t miss her experience, talents and skills at all at what remains a tough time for the regional media. Guess that’s just too simple a concept for the bean-counters to grasp.
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Best wishes for whatever you do next, Cathy. It has been a pleasure to work with you over many years.
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Never mind the quality, slash the wage bill. Another sad example of what’s been happening for years in the regional press. Eventually there will be a heavy price to pay for such thoughtless management.
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Shame on the South Wales Evening Post for reaping benefits from the talents of such an outstanding journalist only to throw her overboard rather than keep her in the position she was obviously filling well…for a male candidate. No doubt she’ll land on her feet and make the bright spark who did this regret it. A sad and troubling example of leadership to those still stuck under it.
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I am deeply saddened to hear of the shabby treatment metered out to you. We had our differences, but I always respected your journalistic acumen. What’s left of the ‘Post will be even sadder now than it has been for some time.
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An absolute disgrace. Shame on Local World for this decision – if, after 28 years of excellent work and dedication, you can’t buy loyalty then they clearly have no regard for anyone. Nobody is safe.
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