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  Regional press news - this story published 21 November 2008

First look at new Birmingham news hub

by holdthefrontpage staff

The new-look Birmingham Post and Mail newsroom has taken shape with editors upbeat about their new home.

Staff on the Post and Mail and Sunday Mercury have been settling in to their new office this week in Fort Dunlop, a former tyre factory five miles outside the city centre overlooking the M6.

Both Mail editor Steve Dyson and Post editor Marc Reeves are excited about the multimedia hub which has been over 13 months in the planning since the move was announced last autumn.

A new-look newsroom and editorial structure – the company was recently rebranded BPM Media – sees less division between titles with the same version of some stories being used in the Mail and Post and on both websites.

The titles have been produced from the city centre and in Printing House Street since the 1960s.

  • Editors captured during the first news conference under the
    new 'one newsroom' editorial structure

    • Steve said: "The move was bloody hard graft all round. Friday saw us producing the Mail, Post and Mercury from Printing House Street and packing our 'bags' to move.

    "On Saturday and Sunday the removal firm sprang into action and by 12 noon Sunday, when the journalists turned up for the Post shift and the Mail overnight pages, the whole editorial floor was ready for us to continue as if nothing had happened.

    "The result? The Post came out on Monday morning, followed by the Mail, without a major hitch.

    "There were the inevitable teething problems but all tackled by heroic efforts all round and not a missed page between us."

  • The imposing former tyre factory now housing BPM Media
    and other local businesses

    • Steve will soon be taking over editorship of the Sunday Mercury as well as the Mail and mooted a possible farewell to his 'Editor's Chair' blog last week.

    But after a flood of comments from staff and regular readers urging him to keep it going, Steve has confirmed the blog will live on.

    Marc added: "It's a fantastic, fresh environment – windows all round, an open-plan, no-secrets environment with a central hub making all editorial decisions in the open.

    "Even the editors sit out on the floor along with all the desk heads to ensure that content goes to the correct website or print edition at the right time.

    "It's now towards the end of day three and the papers have been produced, printed and are on sale.

    "There are plenty of improvements to come, reviews to hold and tweaks to make, but Fort Dunlop has begun."

  • Staff get used to new surroundings complete with panoramic views


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    Local Hero (21/11/2008 10:19)
    Birmingham - you will rue the day that you moved out of your city centre newsroom to this 'multimedia hub'. It is the easiest way to lose contact with your readers and you are no longer a presence in the town, while visits into the city end up taking two hours minimum once you've negotiated traffic and parking, and therefore are eliminated altogether (save the most earth shattering event).


    hilary (21/11/2008 11:32)
    I hope that the 'upbeat' editors and their staff realise that one newsroom and a combined operation will make it easier to cut staff or not replace leavers in future - it's the thin end of the wedge, even if many journalists have already gone. Take a picture of that bustling news hub in 18 months' time - it'll have tumbleweed blowing through it!


    Steve Dyson (21/11/2008 12:25)
    For info, here to town takes 10 mins by car. All content-creating journalists have a space at Fort Dunlop so that they can easily access the city centre (and the suburbs - more important). But crucially, we also have a new satellite office in the city centre with hot-desk facilities for up to six reporters at any one time. Two different reps on rata start the day there every day, as well as it being a city centre office for courts and council staff.


    The Observer (21/11/2008 14:05)
    Steve Dyson (21/11/2008 12:25) For info, here to town takes 10 mins by car. All content-creating journalists have a space at Fort Dunlop so that they can easily access the city centre (and the suburbs - more important). But crucially, we also have a new satellite office in the city centre with hot-desk facilities for up to six reporters at any one time. Two different reps on rata start the day there every day, as well as it being a city centre office for courts and council staff.Steve Dyson (21/11/2008 12:25) -Did you mean rota rather than rata? Obviously no proof readers left?

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