A regional daily editor with 35 years experience in newspapers has become the latest to leave his role in a restructure of a publisher’s recently-acquired titles.
Trinity Mirror has announced that Western Daily Press editor Rob Stokes, left, will depart as part of a revamp of former Local World titles in the South-West of England, along with Lynne Fernquest, editor of the daily-turned-weekly Bath Chronicle.
Rob will leave the WDP on 20 May while Lynne’s last day will be this Friday.
Their departures bring to six the number of ex-Local World editors to leave the business in the current round of restructures.
Paul Brackley, of the Cambridge News, the Leicester Mercury’s Kevin Booth and Dave Atkin of the Scunthorpe Telegraph have all left in the past month, while Neil White of the Derby Telegraph is due to leave on 24 June.
As reported on HTFP last month, TM plans to cut around 14 editorial roles in its Bristol, Gloucester, Somerset and Dorset (BGSD) region in a plan which will also see the websites of 13 local newspapers merged into three.
As part of that proposal, the WDP’s site will be incorporated into that of the Bristol Post, where Rob spent 25 years before taking up his present role in February 2015.
Rob served as the Post’s investigations’ editor, news editor, assistant editor and deputy editor after beginning his career as a trainee reporter on the Weston Mercury.
Said Rob: “I’ve been here in Bristol almost 26 years and I have been lucky enough to have a variety of different roles. My time with the Western Daily Press has been the most challenging and rewarding of my years in newspapers.
“As everyone says when they leave, it is the people, especially those on the Western Daily Press, I will miss the most. I wish them all well.”
Lynne, pictured left, took the helm at the Chronicle in 2012 after two years as editor of the Western Gazette in Yeovil.
She began her career in 1986 as a trainee reporter on the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal before joining the South Wales Evening Post as a sub-editor in 1993, rising to assistant editor in 1995.
Lynne, who will leave the Chronicle on Friday, said: “I have had the most rewarding career with Northcliffe Regional Newspapers, Local World and Trinity Mirror Regionals and benefitted from working with many extremely talented people.
“I have been a journalist for 30 years and although saying farewell to that part of my life will be tinged with sadness, I am very excited about what the future has in store.
“There are so many people who I would like to thank for their encouragement and support, from my early days as a trainee reporter to the last six years as an editor…the best job in the world.
“I am particularly grateful for the opportunity I was given to move from South Wales to Yeovil and then to Bath and I look forward to seeing Trinity Mirror Regionals – and BGSD in particular – go from strength to strength.”
Mike Norton, Trinity Mirror editor-in-chief for Bristol, Gloucester, Somerset and Dorset, said: “I would like to thank Lynne for her hard work and commitment over the years and wish her all the best for the future.”
He added: “I would like to thank Rob his hard work and commitment. He has helped to improve and stabilise and circulation performance of the Western Daily Press and made great headway with its digital performance.
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He added: “I would like to thank Rob his hard work and commitment. He has helped to improve and stabilise and circulation performance of the Western Daily Press and made great headway with its digital performance.” Why the flip is he going then? Oh yeah, another “individual decision”.
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Seriously now Trinity Mirror. Give it a rest with the editor cull!
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When (and where) will this tidal wave end?
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The same ‘editors depart’ story only the names have been changed, and Isn’t that the same lynn fernquest who was reassuring Frome residents on HTFP last week that all was good news following their upping sticks to offices 17 miles away?
The culling continues
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Those Local World chaps who accepted TM’s kind offer to become Editor-in-Chiefs are proving to be a real boon for regional journalism, aren’t they?
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Where do you want me to put this telephone box Trinity Mirror has ordered for its next annual editors’ conference?
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Dick
Theyre ‘persuing opportunities outside of the industry’ is the favoured cliche trotted out in these occasions I believe .
Surprised to hear about lynn fernquest as it was only last week that she was on HTFP supporting the closure of their office in Frome to a new office 17 miles away yet reassuring readers that nothing would change,
http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2016/news/weekly-to-be-based-17-miles-off-patch-after-office-closure/
what a difference a few days makes
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Kenneth: yes, it was she. A rather inglorious end to a career sadly and I bet she wouldn’t have spouted all that Frome nonsense if she’d known this was to be her reward for company “loyalty”. There is more in the pipeline this week, sir. Keep ’em peeled.
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The tide is moving north, I fear. Next stop, Gloucester & Cheltenham.
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Brutal – Rob is the consummate professional.
Any organisation that can launch the New Day and even imagine it would work is doomed.
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Lynne says: “I am very excited about what the future has in store.”
Don’t laugh. I bet she is, getting away from this lot of jokers. Anything must be better.
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Gang of Four is correct. As experienced and talented professionals with identifiable skills are shed we must remember those near, or at the top of the TM hierarchy who sanctioned the ludicrous The New Day. They are probably safe in their jobs, while people such as Rob (and there are going to be others like him cut in the coming days and weeks) are discarded. TM is a basket case, clueless about squeezing profit from online operations, failing to safeguard the print products where there is still cash, and headed only one way, as a glance at the recent share price graph in the FT shows.
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I’d say death by a thousand cuts but it’s more than that. Anyone keeping the score? How many are left to get rid of?
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A week is a long time in newspapers, just like that other “profession”
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I worked with Rob in the late nineties when he was News Editor on the then Bristol Evening Post. Top drawer newsman, proper journalist in a way that the Simon Fox’s of this world would never understand.
Enough said.
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As ever with obtuse official announcements of senior press employees ‘leaving’ their jobs, the euphemistic lack of honesty, transparency, detail, explanation or linguistic precision is exasperating. Presumably few, if any, of these departing editors actively chose to leave their jobs. It seems likelier that they are ‘being left’ (sacked) by management, and are being paid hush money preventing them from talking about the real reasons. This is especially galling in an industry which is supposed to champion objective truth and open communication, and challenge injustice and corporate balderdash. Even if the publishing management hide the truth, surely it is the role of press-industry websites such as Press Gazette and Hold the Front Page to challenge the official line, uncovering and reporting what actually happened.
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A great shame as another two good journalists bite the dust. Rob put up with my antics in Bristol for eight years and I was delighted when he got his just reward of an editorship.
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“He has helped to improve and stabilise and circulation performance of the Western Daily Press” – what does that even mean?
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“I have been lucky enough to have a variety of different roles.” Lucky indeed, to be appointed to *any* journalistic job.
It’s about time the MPs in Trinity Mirror’s various territories stepped in collectively to put a stop to this greedy, illogical assault on journalism and, in a wider context, democracy itself.
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Two serious questions:
Are there any editors left to cull ?
And knowing the track record of these people why would any self respecting person accept the role of editor for this group?
Surely they know how it will all end , just not when it will
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There is also a “hidden” agenda in that the so-called bosses can get rid of editors, give someone else a fancy title but at a much lower rate of pay and expect them to do the editor’s job without the proper remuneration.
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Millions of £££££ in cuts to cover The New Day losses. Wouldn’t be surprised if it cost them £20m+
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Probably @wordsmith but those taking the Kings shilling must know they’re putting a noose round their own necks and as@brian says they just don’t know when the next axe will fall but fall it will so imagine the stress and pressure they must be under constantly looking over their shoulders
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Best wishes for the future, Rob. A top man who has served the readers of Bristol fabulously.
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Good luck for the future Rob. Top bloke and a really good operator.
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Well, butter my buns – the term ‘end of an era’ is used all too much our industry – but this time it is really true. How will Bristol cope without Rob Stokes – the man, the legend? His no-nonsense, hard-hitting news sense was always evident when I worked for the Evening Post/WDP, and I am truly sorry to see him leave an industry which I know he adores. His legendary patience with those who could be doing more was always evident, and I wish him well with whatever he does next. Best, JC.
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Felt sorry for Lynn until I read her quote near the bottom of this story.
Cash for clap trap I guess?
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Hope there are some new startups challenging the lumbering oaf that is TM.
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F.Harvey, your comments are, as ever, unpleasant, unnecessary and extremely boring. Rob Stokes is a good man so keep your bile in your gut.
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Chris Martin of Coldplay is a good man. However, he is a very bad singer/dancer/lyricist.
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Very sorry to hear this…I had a close working relationship with Rob when I worked in Bristol..he taught me an awful lot about the industry (and more besides) and it helped me shape my career. Let’s hope someone in the PR industry will recognise the superb talents of Rob’s years in the business and snap him up. I owe Rob a lot and wish him well.
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F.Harvey…his album sales and stadium sellouts say otherwise.
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