The longest-serving regional daily editor in the UK is set to leave his role after almost a quarter of a century.
Perry Austin-Clarke, left, has announced he is leaving the Bradford Telegraph & Argus, which he has edited since 1992, and York daily The Press, which he took responsibility in 2014 after a restructure by parent company Newsquest which saw Steve Hughes depart.
He became group editor of Newsquest (Bradford) in 2001, taking on additional responsibility for the Keighley News, Craven Herald, Ilkley Gazette and Wharfedale Observer, while the Gazette & Herald, in Ryedale, was added to his portfolio in December 2014 when he was made group editor of Newsquest (Yorkshire).
Perry, who is leaving to launch his own media business, is the third senior daily editor to leave Newsquest this year following the departures of Kevin Ward from the South Wales Argus and Ian Murray from the Southern Daily Echo.
He will continue to be associated with the T&A, writing for the paper and working on some “special projects”.
No announcement has yet been made on his successor in either Bradford or York.
Said Perry: “When I was asked to apply for the T&A job I was told to expect to do it for five years. But that’s the effect Bradford has on people; it’s a fantastic city with wonderfully open and generous residents but it also has more than its fair share of problems.
“That makes every single day a challenge that sucks you in because you can always see the potential in Bradford even if those who gainsay it can’t. So editorship of the T&A has been a fascinating and all-consuming experience.”
“The T&A has raised millions of pounds for charity under his editorship, including buying Bradford Royal Infirmary’s first MRI scanner and setting up a chair of cancer research at Bradford University which has already led to major advances in treatment. In 2015-16, the T&A helped raise another £1 million for a mass spectrometer to help bring new cancer drugs to the market more quickly.
“I’m extremely proud of our many charity fund-raising efforts, and I am particularly keen to use my experience to help local charities with my new venture.”
He added: “I have worked over the years with many very fine, talented and totally committed journalists – both in Bradford and York – who have donated an incredible amount of effort and goodwill to producing the best possible newspaper and websites every day, often under very challenging conditions.”
Newsquest managing director (North) David Coates said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Perry for his enormous contribution to the success of all our titles in both Bradford and York over a long and distinguished career and wish him every success with his new venture.”
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Another fine, long serving and experienced editor leaves the industry, the latest in a long and seemingly never ending line of old school editors and further weakening the gene pool of the county’s regional publications.
It seems odd there’s no one in the wings ready to take over the mantle but no doubt Perry will be seen as a cost saving.
Very good wishes to perry in his new venture.
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Not leaving the industry then, just leaving NQ and his position of editor?
end of an era for the whole industry when long standing publishing staff leave be they editorial or commercial and whether pushed or jumped.
When an industry or a company is in crisis they always need the best people onside to get them out of it but only the regional press in this country let their best staff go in the name of cost savings thus further worsening their already precarious position ….though I’m sure that’s not the case here
Good wishes to perry and his new ventures
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Whatever happened to the idea that someone’s age is an essential element of EVERY story?
In this case, no-one of a certain age would jump ship for a new venture, however ‘exciting’ they claim it to be. I’m afraid it must be the gangplank…
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For once, Regional, I agree with you. Ages are crucial to the understanding of every story. Is that teenager a 13-year-old girl or a 19-year-old boy? Or that pensioner a newly-hatched 65-year-old or an increasingly common 100-year-old? This story should, I think, read: “Perry, 57, who is leaving to launch his own media business…”
Love to all, Alan (61)
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This news will surely be greeted with heartfelt sorrow.
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Nice tributes from Perry’s staff past and present. You’ll be missed.
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