AddThis SmartLayers

Archant Norfolk editorial director leaves company

The editorial director of Archant Norfolk has left the business to do a masters degree in business administration.

James Foster plans to undertake an MBA at the University of East Anglia and pursue other interests in the media.

The news was announced to staff by Archant Norfolk managing director Johnny Hustler today.

James is not being replaced and the division’s two daily editors and other senior editorial staff will now report directly to Johnny.

A former editor of the Norwich Evening News, James had been overseeing both the News and its sister title the Eastern Daily Press since his promotion to the role in 2009.

He had recently been leading the rollout of iWitness, a new online platform to enable members of the public to submit photographs to Archant’s daily titles.

He was also responsible for overseeing the introduction of the company’s new content management system in 2009 that enabled journalists to write stories directly onto pages.

Last year he was the subject of a vote of no confidence by Archant Norfolk journalists during a dispute over job cuts at the division.

Today’s announcement read:  “I am sad to announce that James Foster, editorial director in Norfolk, has decided to leave Archant. James plans to undertake an MBA at the UEA and pursue other interests in the media.

“James has made a huge contribution over the four years he has been here, most notably by playing a pivotal role in the introduction of our new CMS system, which is now embedded across Archant.

“More recently James has pioneered the introduction of I-witness 24, which has already grabbed the imagination of our staff and the general public across our markets.

“As part of this process James pushed hard for all our reporters to be equipped with up to date mobile technology – and only last week the EDP led with a front page picture of a robbery in Kings Lynn taken on an I-phone.

“James also took a great interest in our weekly titles, and over recent months has substantially upgraded their look and quality.

“Since I came into this new Anglia post last spring, James has given me a huge amount of help and I will miss his company, his clever insight and his advice. I am sure all colleagues will join with me in wishing him great success in his new situation.”

James originally joined Archant from the Cambridge Evening News where he was deputy editor.

During the course of a nine-year stint with the paper he was also assistant editor and chief sub-editor.

 

One comment

You can follow all replies to this entry through the comments feed.
  • February 7, 2012 at 11:44 am
    Permalink

    I’m surprised the staff gave him a vote of no confidence if he secured them spanking new i-phones.

    Some people seem to have no sense of gratitude.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(1)