The editor of a formerly independent weekly freesheet which was recently taken over by Johnston Press has left his role.
Greg Hadfield, pictured left, has resigned from the Brighton & Hove Independent after more than two years at the helm of the newspaper.
JP acquired the Independent in July, prompting a south coast “newspaper war” with Newsquest.
It is understood that Greg made the decision to step down himself, after agreeing to stay on as “consulting editor” during the post-sale transition. JP Sussex editor-in-chief Gary Shipton will now take full editorial oversight of the paper.
At the time of the purchase, the company said there were no planned staffing changes to staffing at the newspaper, which joined a stable of 32 other JP-owned titles in the region.
Following the purchase, Newsquest, which owns Brighton daily The Argus, launched the Eastbourne Independent to compete with JP weekly the Eastbourne Gazette.
Greg announced his departure on his Twitter account saying he was standing down after “three of the most wonderful years of my career in journalism”.
He added: “Best wishes and thanks to colleagues, contributors, readers, advertisers – especially magnificent (Independent founder and managing director) Mark Ansell and brilliant (chief reporter) Bex Bastable.”
Said Gary: “Greg kindly offered to stay with us as consulting editor through the transition period and has been a tremendous support.
“He has now decided the time is right to step down from the role and we’re sorry to see him go. We wish him every success in the future.”
Greg had taken up the editorship of the Independent, which was founded by Mark in 2011, in July 2013.
He began his career at the Wakefield Express in 1979 and went on to become chief reporter and news editor at the Western Morning News from 1983 to 1986, before moving on to the nationals.
Greg served as education correspondent at Today for two years before taking up the same role at the Sunday Times, where he later became news editor and assistant editor.
He became a senior investigative reporter at the Daily Mail in 1994, switching to the chief reporter role at the Daily Express two years later.
Greg also founded football website Soccernet with his then 12-year-old son Tom in 1995, which was later sold to ESPN for £25m.
Sign up for our free daily email bulletin
Follow HTFP on Twitter
Got a story? Email the Editor at
I was starting to feel very sorry for the latest editor to decide the job was no longer for him – until I read the last par!
Report this comment
The last par is like something from The Framley Examiner!
Report this comment
A top performer here but one with complete choice over his life and work (see Rambler’s comment) and therefore in a different bracket to the majority of editorial staff who “decide” to call it quits these days.
Report this comment
Good on him for making his millions.
We should not be jealous, as the opportunity exists out there for us all to come up up with something.
At least someone in newspapers has made money from online.
Report this comment
The key phrase is ‘later sold to ESPN for £25 mn’.
Associated rescued it and bought it for far, far less. THEY eventually sold it for £25 mn.
Report this comment
Kudos for the guy for still spending his life doing something he’s passionate about when he didn’t need to.
If I had £25 million under my belt I’d be dead by now, having passed away surrounded by bongs, vodka bottles and hookers in the MGM Grand.
Report this comment
As last pars go, that’s a cracker. It reminds me of the last par in an historic contributed item about a church tea party: “The tea was marred by the death of the vicar.”
Report this comment
Brilliant delayed drop on this story. Best of luck to an obviously talented guy, somehow I don’t think he’ll need to visit the fabled ‘warehouse of redundant editors’ though.
Report this comment
Talking of The Framley Examiner, the brilliant (chief reporter) Bex Bastable sounds uncannily like someone who would feature in one of their bylines…
Report this comment
Was he happy with the changes being implemented by JP? That is the key question!
Report this comment
So another so-called editor-in-chief takes on another paper in the JP empire. Talent (if any exists in these roles) too thinly spread me thinks. Only one company can benefit from this change.
Report this comment
Never mind the last par. It’s the staff I feel sorry for, having to work for the pariahs of JP.
Report this comment
My! These super editors-in- chief are busy bees. Not really the same as having a proper editor in the shop though, is it? And it shows. Probably some overworked reporter actually running the paper.
Report this comment
I hear the ‘newsroom of the future’ publications are something to behold! Quality products I believe. LOW quality!
Report this comment