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Daily editor quits publisher after 22 years for new council PR role on patch

Steven Bell 1A regional daily editor is leaving after 22 years with the same company to take up a new council PR role on his patch.

Steven Bell, left, who has edited the Dundee Evening Telegraph since October 2015, is set to become Dundee City Council’s head of communications.

He will depart the Evening Telegraph at the end of the month and take up his new position in mid-August.

Steven has spent 22 years with Telegraph publisher DC Thomson, and previously served as the newspaper’s deputy editor.

He took on its editorship as part of a Thomson restructure which saw his predecessor Richard Prest move to become editor of the Sunday Post and The Weekly News.

During his time there, the Telegraph launched its first ever weekend edition and celebrated its 140th anniversary, while earlier this year, the paper moved to a new city centre office alongside sister daily The Courier.

Steven told HTFP: “I’ve had a brilliant 22 years with DC Thomson, working with some amazing people and telling lots of great stories.

“I’m leaving behind a fantastic team that I’m sure will continue to do an excellent job working on the Tele.

“I’m excited to take on a new challenge, as head of communications at Dundee City Council.

“Dundee is at a brilliant place in its history right now, and I’m looking forward to being part of that as we head towards what will hopefully be a successful European Capital of Culture bid in 2023.”

No announcement has yet been made on Steven’s replacement at the Telegraph.

4 comments

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  • July 12, 2017 at 11:25 am
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    And so the talent drain away from the regional press continues
    Makes you wonder who will be left of any note in a years time

    Then we have news of a NQ ‘ promotion’ elsewhere on HTFP today with one person in charge of twelve titles
    ….it’s no wonder the industry’s in the state it’s in

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  • July 12, 2017 at 12:01 pm
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    Agree @SSJ
    I can’t help thinking Stephen has made the right choice by jumping off the regional press hamster wheel and heading for new greener pastures in the independent media sector. When I think of all the top top people I used to work with, advertising as well as editorial,who found themselves surplus to requirements yet who are now thriving and making a real success with independent publishers often in opposition to the company or group they used to work for, I’m not surprised the industry is down on its uppers
    I also find it easier to name the few good people left in the industry as opposed to listing all the quality ex colleagues now long gone, andvthst to me is the key factor in why copy sales and ad revenues are forever falling
    Yes people choose to access news in better ways we know but without the high quality of content, the contacts, the local knowledge ,experience and the trust and credibility the whole house of cards collapses and when that happens it’s time to move in too

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  • July 13, 2017 at 2:02 pm
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    Fantastic team. So why leave? Very diplomatic quotes. Should do well in new job. Whatever his reason is, good luck to him.

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