Enhanced role: Jacqui Walls

Two West Country weeklies are to come under a single editor from January, publisher Local World announced today.

Jacqui Walls, editor of The Cornishman, will also take charge of sister title the West Briton whose current editor Richard Best is bowing out of the industry after 25 years.

Richard took over as editor of the West Briton in 2009 having previously been editor of the North Devon Journal.

He trained on the Tiverton Gazette and has also worked on the Express & Echo and South Wales Evening Post, as well as spending seven years in magazine publishing.

Said Richard: “This year marks my 25th in the industry and there is an element of me not wanting to just do one thing for my entire working life.

“I genuinely don’t know which field I will surface in yet, as I am interested in many things. There are many talented people in the group and I have enjoyed the journalism and the friendship, and I wish everybody the very best.”

Added Jacqui said: “The West Briton and The Cornishman are among the country’s most popular weekly papers and it is a great privilege to be given the opportunity to lead these two historic brands.

Bowing out: Richard Best

“I am sad to see Richard go, as he has been a tremendous colleague and mentor, but I have a fantastic team to work with as we build on past successes and lead the way in print and online for the future.”

Managing Director of Cornwall and Devon Media, Mark Sainsbury said: “Whilst it’s not easy to see a talented editor leave the business, Richard has left a very positive legacy for Jacqui to continue – the highest selling weekly in Local World and an online audience which is growing significantly year on year.”

Jacqui starts her new role on 20 January and Richard leaves the business on 24 January.