The editor of a bi-weekly newspaper has left his role after reportedly taking voluntary redundancy from Johnston Press.

Martin McGinley has stepped down as editor of the Derry Journal after a number of years in the job and says he is now looking for new challenges.

Before joining the title, he ran his own PR business, Martin McGinley PR, for two years but returned to newspapers to succeed Pat McArt at the Journal, who had been at the helm of the title for nearly 25 years.

Previously, Martin has been editor of the Donegal Democrat and Donegal People’s Press, which are also part of the Derry Journal Group.

His departure from the Journal is understood to be through Johnston Press’ voluntary redundancy programme, which the publisher launched last autumn with enhanced terms, in a bid to reduce costs.

Tweeting about his departure earlier this month, he said: “So what’s next?! Very fond of Derry Journal and wish team there every success. Glad of chance to start plotting new things this Mon morning!”

Martin had previously worked at the Derry Journal in the 1980s and he began his career as a cub reporter at the Derry People and Donegal News.