Editor Stewart Gilbert has taken over at the Worcester Evening News after several successful years editing its sister papers The Hereford Times and Ludlow/Tenbury Wells Advertiser.

During his years in charge at the Hereford Times, the circulation, readership and pagination reached record levels.

He said: “The Worcester Evening News is a paper with a great heritage and record of serving the city and county.

“I look forward to taking the paper forward and providing a newspaper that is a touchstone for the community.

He is passionate about the need for community coverage in regional newspapers, and said: “I believe that any local paper needs to inform, stimulate, educate and entertain its readership, reporting on issues that are relevant to their lives.

“Papers have to reflect the aims, interests and aspirations of their readership if they are to succeed, in circulation or commercial terms.

“We should feel free to report without fear or favour on matters, whethercontroversial or not, but always with truth, accuracy and balance as themain ethos.”

Before taking over at Hereford, multi-award winner Stewart edited the Evesham Journal, Cotswold Journal, Stratford Journal and Admag Series. Before that he was editor of The Solihull News and the Alnwick Advertiser in Northumberland.

He is a past midlands regional chairman and national councillor for the Guild of Editors (now Society of Editors), and has pressed for greater accountability of local authorities, taking a lead role in the campaign which forced the Government into a u-turn over access to meeting guidelines in the local authority cabinet system.

Newsquest Midlands managing director, Mike Pagett said: “I am delighted towelcome Stewart Gilbert to the Worcester Evening News.

“He has demonstrated his commitment to providing excellent local newspapers and, I am sure, he will lead our first-class Worcester editorial team to continue this for the readers of the Evening News.”

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