A former deputy editor of national celebrity magazines has taken over the helm of a local weekly newspaper.

Roger Kasper, left, is the new editor of the Sevenoaks Chronicle and takes over from Ian Read who moved to the Tunbridge Wells office of parent company Northcliffe Media several months ago.

The 44-year-old joined the company last September as news editor of the Canterbury Times, Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Times trio of titles and is a former deputy editor of both OK! and Hello! magazines and former acting editor of the Daily Mirror’s TV magazine We Love Telly!

The Chronicle had been without an in-office editor for three months prior to Roger’s appointment as the Sevenoaks office had been under threat of closure in the summer when Northcliffe centralised subbing operations on its South East weeklies.

He told HTFP: “The office was in a state of limbo until it was saved, and rightly so.

“Our location is spot on in the High Street so it’s absolutely brilliant that we’re still here. I’m throwing myself into the community to get under its skin and see what makes the area tick.

“I want to make the paper bright and lively, serve its community well and as accessible to as many people as possible.

“The team is young and enthusiastic and hopefully the readers will appreciate this and come back to it in large numbers.”

Roger started his career with the Gravesend Reporter and has previously worked as a consultant editor at the Mail on Sunday, covered showbiz and features for the News of the World and runs gossip website the thedailygoss.com.

Comments

Harry Clegg (05/10/2009 09:28:41)
What, I wonder, is his favourite Beatles album?

Bob (05/10/2009 10:20:40)
Sgt Peppers I think.