AddThis SmartLayers

Editor turned lecturer returns to frontline in new Newsquest role

Dave KingA former regional daily editor who later went into journalism training is returning to the frontline to take charge of a group of weekly titles.

Dave King, pictured left, who was editor at the Newsquest-owned Swindon Advertiser and deputy editor at the Southern Daily Echo, is rejoining Newsquest as editor-in-chief of its recently-acquired Berkshire division.

Dave, currently head of journalism at Portsmouth’s Highbury College, will take charge of the Reading Chronicle, Bracknell News and Slough Observer.

He replaces Tim Cole, who was named editor-in-chief of Newsquest Berkshire in November 2015 but has now left the business.

Dave, who will take up his new job in March, had been working at NCTJ-accredited Highbury College since September 2014.

Before that he had been a journalist for more than 30 years, working for the Essex Chronicle, Ruislip-Northwood Gazette, Eastern Daily Press, and The News, Portsmouth.

Dave also worked for the Gulf Daily News in Bahrain and was sports editor and later deputy editor at the Daily Echo, before becoming editor of the Advertiser.

He quit that role to spend more time with family but later returned as head of news for Sussex Newspapers, responsible for five Johnston Press-owned titles in East Sussex, before taking on the Highbury College job.

The Berkshire papers were acquired by Newsquest when it bought Romanes Media Group in May last year.

Tim took on the editor-in-chief role following the departure of Chronicle editor Lesley Potter, thought to have become disenchanted with her paper’s direction since the takeover, in September.

In July up to seven jobs were put at risk when Newsquest announced plans to dissolve its newly-acquired production department in Reading, while it is understood two further editorial staff have left the Berkshire operation in recent weeks.

The latest changes were revealed in an announcement by Ian Murray, group editor for Newsquest Hampshire and Berkshire, which has been seen by HTFP.

He told staff: “I’m delighted to confirm that the post of Editor in Chief for Newsquest Berkshire is to be taken by Dave King.

“Dave has a wealth of experience in regional newspapers and will take the helm of Newsquest titles based in Reading, Bracknell and Slough, including the Reading Chronicle, Bracknell News and Slough Observer.”

10 comments

You can follow all replies to this entry through the comments feed.
  • January 27, 2016 at 2:57 pm
    Permalink

    So how many editors has this tiny group of papers gone through over the past couple of years? If it were not their own company, the papers would be running articles about “Yet another boss appointed”

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(1)
  • January 27, 2016 at 4:17 pm
    Permalink

    That pic… where he looks like he might jump off a cliff… subliminal message?

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(2)
  • January 27, 2016 at 6:12 pm
    Permalink

    Best of British mate. You’ll need it. Third editor in how many months if you count Lesley Potter?

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(2)
  • January 28, 2016 at 10:16 am
    Permalink

    Good point runaway ed.
    It looks suspiciously like Beachy Head, if you ask me

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(1)
  • January 28, 2016 at 11:44 am
    Permalink

    Or to give him his full title ‘Deckchair rearranger on the Titanic’…

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(3)
  • January 31, 2016 at 4:20 pm
    Permalink

    Good luck to him as he boards risky, squally and mean spirited Newsquest and in need of stab-proof vest. Looks like a cliffhanger for him!

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(3)