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Group editor quits to join journalism college

A senior Johnston Press editor has stepped down after 13 years to join the staff of a journalism college.

Mark Bradley, left, first took over as editor of the Wakefield Express in December 2000, having previously been a sub-editor on the Yorkshire Post.

His role was later expanded to that of group editor of the Yorkshire Weekly Newspaper Group, which also includes the Pontefract and Castleford Express, Hemsworth & South Elmsall Express, Dewsbury Reporter, Mirfield Reporter, Batley & Birstall News, Spenborough Guardian and the Morley Observer.

Mark, who began his career as a reporter on the Uxbridge Gazette in 1995 before moving onto the Harrogate Advertiser as a sub, left the role last month and is now a journalism teacher at the University of Sheffield.

An article on the university website said Mark had been “instrumental in converting newsrooms into multimedia operations, as well as the strategic development of editorial policy across print, online and social media channels.”

It added:  “He has also overseen the development of a significant number of trainee reporters into senior journalists now based across the UK and Europe.”

In an announcement to staff last week, JP’s Yorkshire editorial director Jeremy Clifford named Hannah Thaxted as Mark’s interim successor in Wakefield.

Hannah, who is editor of the Morley Observer and the Reporter series, will oversee the Express in addition to her existing role, pending a longer term appointment.

Said Hannah: “Wakefield’s a terrific city with a really positive buzz about it.  I have deputised for Mark editing the Express and the Pontefract and Caslteford and Hemsworth papers over the past few years, so I know the titles and the staff really well already.

“They’re really newsy areas, and have a terrific team who already work closely with the Reporter Series staff. I’m looking forward to building up those close working relationships and getting to know Wakefield and the patch much better.”

Jeremy said Hannah would split her working week between the Wakefield Express office and the Reporter Series newsroom in Leeds.

He added:  “We will be making a decision on the long term editorship of the title in due course.”

3 comments

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  • October 6, 2014 at 11:47 am
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    Congratulations Mark, and good luck with the new job.

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  • October 6, 2014 at 4:05 pm
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    Good luck, Mark! Out of the newsroom fire into the education frying pan?

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  • October 6, 2014 at 6:25 pm
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    A good move. Maybe JP could get rid of all group editors and give local papers proper editors like they used to have. Would improve them no end.

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