Charlotte Richardson

A chief reporter at a weekly paper has been named as the new editor of Archant’s Somerset Life county magazine.

Charlotte Richardson will finish at the Weston, Worle & Somerset Mercury to take up her new post on April 8.

Group editor for Archant Life’s south west region, Andy Cooper, said he was “delighted” with the appointment.

“I am confident her local knowledge, ideas and enthusiasm are just what we need to develop Somerset Life,” he said.

Current acting editor of the magazine Carol Burns, who took over from previous editor Natalie Vizard when she went to work for the Exeter Daily web operation, will stay in the role until Charlotte takes over.

Charlotte started her career at the paper 10 years ago as a telesales rep, working up through the ranks to become chief reporter.

She added: “I’m thrilled to have been appointed the editor of such a highly-respected magazine.

“Having started off as a telesales representative at the Mercury ten years ago and then progressing through the ranks, I have experienced the best media training through Archant that anybody could wish for.

“I look forward to taking on this new position within the company and working with the great team at Somerset Life.”