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Retiring Shetland editor 'will be a hard act to follow'

Vaila Wishart is to retire after 15 years as editor of the Shetland Times.

During her time at the independent newspaper, Britain’s most northerly weekly, she has helped stave off competition from the short-lived Shetland Weekly, and saw it become a daily newspaper for the first time during the NatWest Island Games.

Vaila’s editorship has also seen her work alongside her sister-in-law June Wishart, who is the paper’s managing director.

June said: “We were also both in the same class at school so we know each other very well.

“She will be a hard act to follow and it’s not going to be easy to find the right person.

“Being an editor of a newspaper for an island community such as this, you become very involved in the community and it’s hard to go out and about socially without people associating you with your job. It takes over your life.”

Before joining the Shetland Times Vaila had been a sub-editor at the Press and Journal in Aberdeen and has also worked for Radio Shetland.

She will step down from her role once a successor is found.

  • The Shetland Times has a weekly circulation of 11,273 (ABC July – Dec 2004).