A regional daily editor who stepped down from his role last month has likened the job to toilet paper and referred to his staff as the Addams family in a blog post.
Former Swindon Advertiser editor Dave King said he spent most of the time “dealing with other people’s crap” during his time in the role.
Dave stepped down last month to spend time with his family following the announcement of five redundancies at the Newsquest title.
He wrote his blog entitled Passing Shots: Ramblings of a Wizened Journalist, following a bus journey he took in his hometown of Bournemouth which he said made him reflect on how he no longer missed those ‘toilet roll moments.’
Wrote Dave: “A few weeks ago, I was working as the busy editor of a regional daily paper – at my desk at sparrowfart a good couple of hours before the rest of the staff, and not leaving the office until nigh on 12 hours later, with sometimes the prospect of an evening function or meeting to come.
“I was responsible for a team of journalists, an incredible Addams Family set of characters, as my day often depended on their whims and moods, or what issues popped up in my emails.”
He says that during one management training sessions he was once asked to draw his job, so sketched a toilet roll.
“I explained to colleagues that my job every day was not a creative journalist, but instead it was determined by dealing with other people’s crap,” writes Dave.
He went on to say that he had stepped off the incessant media merry-go-round after 30 years and it felt good.
“I had no-one asking me to do their thinking for them, no phones ringing, no Microsoft Outlook heralding the arrival of the latest piece of cyber dross to be dumped in my email basket.
“No, the only decision I had to make was what stop to get off as the bus drew closer to Bournemouth town centre.”
Dave, a former deputy editor of thr Southern Daily Echo in Southampton, left the Advertiser earlier this month after four years as editor.
He was replaced in the role by Gary Lawrence, formerly editor of Newsquest Wiltshire’s weekly titles.
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So which one was Pugsley?
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It’s a relief he can afford to step off the merry go round
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Mens sana in corpore sano?
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So what did Dave leve behind? Find out on Htfp this Wednesday as Dyson at Large reviews the Swindon Advertiser.
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He did well. The papers I used to edit were USED as toilet rolls.
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Stop whingeing man! It’s a long time since editors were able to regard themselves as ‘creative journalists.’ They are primarily managers these days – and you must have known that when you took the job.
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I always thought Gary Lawrence was a bit like Gomez….
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I went for a job interview for deputy news editor at the Adver about 18 months ago, and most of the time was spent by the news editor telling me why I shouldn’t take the job if it was offered to me. It also became obvious, in my opinion, that the assistant editor and the editor didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye. I walked out of there bemused, bewildered and certain that should the job be offered, it would not be taken. The only redeeming feature of it seemed to be the massive Victoria sponge in the middle of the newsroom. I was never more happy to be turned down for a job!
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I too went for a job here once. I remember thinking what a motley crew of small town fish the staff were, but what struck me more was how dark, dingy and uninspiring the newsroom was. Guess that’s Swindon all round. I’m surprised that Mr King, who is a great journalist and editor, lasted so long in such an unattractive role. I’d choose early retirement to Bournemouth over that any day. In fact, I’d probably choose being Nick Clegg’s PR officer over working for Newsquest Wiltshire!
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Did you get the job Morticia – because how embarrassing would it be to be turned down by a motley crew of small town fish . . . and a dingy, unispiring town at that?
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Meanwhile, before anyone gets too rich with any inane comments, take a moment to read the latest blog posted today on Dave King’s site at http://peekay-passingshots.blogspot.com/
A great read and a strong reminder that the job is immaterial when it comes to family. Best wishes with Ross’ recovery, Dave.
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There are indeed more important things than the job but any editor these days should know that they are going to be crapped on from a great height by senior management. Not much point in blaming the underpaid, uninspired staff for having whims and moods.
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The things is, Dave is an extremely decent bloke. Is it possible that was the problem?
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