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New digital role for editor after four years at weekly

A weekly newspaper editor is stepping down today after four years in the hot seat.

Matt Bond has been with the NewquayVoice for eight years in total, having previously been a reporter and assistant editor, but is now looking forward to a new role with Cornwall Council.

The 36-year-old will be the head of its video production department, helping to develop its digital communications strategy.

Matt said: “I’ve really enjoyed helping to develop the Voice over the past eight years into the community focussed, successful newspaper it is today.

“It’s been an enormous challenge, privilege and something of which I am immensely proud.”

Matt will be replaced as editor by Simon Fernley, former assistant editor of Northcliffe weekly the Cornish Guardian, who was responsible for the Newquay edition of that newspaper.

He left the company as part of a wider editorial shake-up a year ago and for the last eight months has been sub-editing Tindle titles the Cornish Times and Sunday Independent, in Liskeard.

Simon has more than 20 years of experience in local newspapers, mostly spent covering news in Newquay and the surrounding area.

He started his career in 1988 as a reporter in the town where he grew up and still lives.

Simon, who will take up his new post at the end of next week, said: “I’m hugely excited about joining the team.

“The Voice is held in great affection by its readership and I feel honoured to be building on the success it has enjoyed in recent years. I can’t wait to get started.”

Voice publisher Andrew Laming added: “I’d like to thank Matt for his hard work over the last few years and wish him well with his new challenge.

“We are looking forward to welcoming Simon to the team, he is well known and respected in the town.

“He will bring a huge amount of valuable experience and Newquay knowledge to the paper and I’m delighted that he is joining us.”

  • Matt (right) welcomes new editor Simon to the NewquayVoice