The campaign logo put together by supporters of Whitby Gazette editor Jon Stokoe
An online campaign has been launched to save the job of a weekly editor whose role was axed after his paper posted a 2.1pc sales rise.
HoldtheFrontPage revealed yesterday that Whitby Gazette editor Jon Stokoe faces redundancy despite it being only one of 13 paid-for weeklies to put on circulation in the latest ABC figures.
Now friends and supporters of Jon have launched a #saveourstokoe campaign on Twitter in a bid to persuade publishers Johnston Press to think again about the move.
It has so far attracted support from a number of other senior regional press journalists as well as national media figures such as the BBC’s Jeremy Vine.
Jon is currently in consultation over his future after being told the company plan to merge his job with that of Scarborough News editor Ed Asquith.
He learned of the move the day after the Gazette posted a 2.1pc sales rise in last week’s ABC figures, making it the 6th best performing paid-for weekly in the country.
Johnston Press has said only that it is currently going through a consultation process with some members of staff in Whitby. This is expected to be completed later this month.
In addition to axing the editor role, the company is also planning to sell the Gazette’s offices overlooking Whitby Harbour, and house its remaining staff in a smaller office in the town.
Among those urging the company to think again is Adrian Braddy, former editor of the Teesdale Mercury now editing the Dalesman.
“Heartwarming to see all messages of support for @gazetteinwhitby editor @jonstokoe. Papers like his need dedicated editors,” he Tweeted.
Former Birmingham Mail and Teesside Gazette editor Steve Dyson urged JP chief executive Ashley Highfield to intervene personally in the case.
In a Tweet to Ashley he wrote: “Can I suggest that you look urgently at what appears to be a poor decision re @jonstokoe at the Whitby Gazette?
The campaign is being spearheaded by local businesswoman Vicky Dixon, who runs Whitby Seafish, a fresh fish supplier and smokehouse. She is urging local businesses and readers to boycott the Gazette unless the decision is reversed.
Jon tweeted today: “So many calls, texts and messages. Thank you each and every one of you, I am completely overwhelmed and humbled.”
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Nice one! People power – something that local newspapers have trumpeted and supported in the past – could help win the day. This redundancy can’t be allowed to happen. Good for Vicky – I hope the campaign is successful and Jon keeps his job.
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It will certainly be interesting to see if this campaign is taken into account in the ‘consultation’ process.
If not I bet I can guess what the next ABCs for the Whitby Gazette will look like.
#saveourstokoe
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You could say that producing a paid-for paper is the definition of people power anyway, and people have been showing their power by voting with their feet.
Even so, this campaign is heartening and I for one would be delighted if it succeeded. But let me ask the question: would Jon want to work at a paper where he knows his senior managers and the accountants really wanted him out…a paper that is shrinking away from its iconic harbour headquarters. Would he not prefer, now that this has happened, to take the redundo dosh? By all accounts he is young enough and good enough to go somewhere he is appreciated.
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Fresh Coriander makes a valid point but, having read yessterday’s post, I suspect Jon would prefer to continue working on the patch he has made his own. Popped into Whitby last year and was envious of the newspaper’s central location.
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Really sad to hear about this, hope Jon ends up where he wants to be and doing what he wants to do. Not surprised though, time and time again JP have demonstrated that they have no regard for their work force but are happy to show they are jumping through hoops with on-line surveys etc to demonstrate the opposite. Jon should have been rewarded for his efforts in this dire time, not shown the door. Once again – shame on JP.
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lovely story, shame it fails to mention the reason for the ABC performance. There used to be two weekly paid for papers in Whitby, both owned by JP, and now there is only one; strangely this has led to a consolidation in sale and a good ABC performance. Am sure John is a great editor, but in this instance the market leading performance has more to do with the accountants than the editor!!
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There were not two paid for papers in Whitby per week, there were two editions of The Gazette, tues and Friday, there is now just one on a Thursday. Check your facts realitycheck
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Not only did Jon pull a circulation rise out of the bag in this dire market; he did so in the face of a crippling cover-price rise (from 55p to 90p) imposed by JP bosses when the second edition was scrapped. Pretty remarkable really. Think again JP. #saveourstokoe
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How typical of JP… ! I’m in agreement with Fresh coriander. Sounds like Jon can do alot better and his hard work would be much more appreciated somewhere else ! The thing is, even if they do choose to keep Jon on it’s only a matter of time before the whole company goes t*ts up anyway?
Take the money and run is what i say !
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Local management have proved they really had their fingers on the pulse in one of their marketplaces with this decision. What were they thinking? #saveourstokoe
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