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Weekly editor quits for council PR role

The editor of the Kent and Sussex Courier is leaving his role after four years to take up a role as a council communications advisor.

Ian Read. left, will leave the Local World-owned weekly on 15 March to join Tower Hamlets Council in East London.

He will be replaced as editor of the Courier by Roger Kasper, until now editor of sister title the Sevenoaks Chronicle.

Courier Media Group said an announcement about Roger’s successor would be made in due course.

Ian, 31, joined the Courier as a trainee reporter in December 2002 and was appointed its editor a little over six years later.

He said: “I have loved every minute of my time at the Courier and being editor of such a respected newspaper has been a great honour.

“Particular highlights of my time as editor include helping raise thousands of pounds for a blind toddler, successfully campaigning to keep Crowborough Athletic in their division, winning the fight to keep parking free in Cranbrook and lobbying hard for the A21 dualling to go ahead.”

The Courier has been at the heart of local life for 140 years and it will continue to do so in the multi-media age. I look forward to keeping an eye on local goings-on as a Courier reader: I may even contribute the occasional reader’s letter!”

During Ian’s four years as editor, the Courier was named best weekly newspaper in the South of England at the 2011 EDF Energy Media Awards, and last month collected the Campaign of the Year trophy at the Kent Media Awards for the paper’s A21 campaign.

Before being appointed Courier editor, Ian was in charge at the Sevenoaks Chronicle, where the paper picked up an award for its campaign to reopen the town’s theatre.

A statement from the Courier Media Group said:  “We wish Ian every success in his future career and take this opportunity to thank him for his significant contribution to the business.

“Roger Kasper will take over the editorship of the Courier from 15 March and an announcement about the editorship of the Sevenoaks Chronicle will follow in due course.”

Ian and his team collecting the trophy for Campaign of the Year at the recent Kent Media Awards

9 comments

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  • February 28, 2013 at 9:25 am
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    Sad to see Ian go. He’s done a good job there. Suspect Roger has plenty of plans for the paper. Good luck to both of them.

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  • February 28, 2013 at 11:21 am
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    I worked with Ian when I was training to be a journalist and he was a fantastic first boss. He taught me so much, and really encouraged me in the following years when I worked for the group. Thanks for everything Ian and all the best in your new job!

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  • February 28, 2013 at 11:59 am
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    Best editor EVER and a sad loss to our paper. But then, I’m biased.

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  • February 28, 2013 at 1:33 pm
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    It’s sad enough to see talented reporters jumping ship for made-up jobs in council PR but when editors go the same way the writing really is on the wall.
    He must be a good operator to have taken on the editor’s chair at such a tender age, even in these days of accelerated progress through the ranks, but to be turning his back on it at just 31 for the dark side is truly depressing.

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  • February 28, 2013 at 3:50 pm
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    More importantly, who’s the guy on the right fiddling with his flies?

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  • March 1, 2013 at 9:17 am
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    It’s rare that you meet such an inspiring and dedicated editor, especially one so young. Ian’s a rare breed who always put the good of his readers and staff first, creating some cracking papers that kept us on our toes.
    Local World are mad to let him slip through their fingers.

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  • March 1, 2013 at 12:54 pm
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    I worked with Ian at the Courier for several years. His work as a reporter kept all other reporters on their toes, as he set such high standards. When he moved up the ranks he retained that attention to detail and drive to get the best from every story that made his contribution to the Courier so valuable. He deserves to make as much of a success of his new role as he did of his work at the Courier.

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  • March 1, 2013 at 2:01 pm
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    Well done Ian. Hope the new role goes well in Tower Hamlets.

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  • March 5, 2013 at 2:37 pm
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    Tunbridge’s loss is Tower’s gain – look forward to welcoming you to the London bubble Ian!

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