A weekly editor has announced he is stepping down after eight years- less than a month after taking additional responsibility for four weekly newspapers.
Jason Gibbins, pictured left, will leave the Banbury Guardian after 22 years in the regional press in July to take up a new role with the BBC England digital team in Birmingham.
Editor in Banbury since 2007, Jason had also taken on the editorships of the Bucks Herald, Bucks Advertiser, Hemel Hempstead Gazette and the Buckingham and Winslow Advertiser in a restructure last month.
It followed the departure of Roger Hawes in publisher Johnston Press’s ‘newsroom of the future’ shake-up in the South Midlands.
The restructure has seen JP’s titles across the region split into four geographic divisions, each headed up by an editor reporting to group editor David Summers, who also edits the Northampton Chronicle and Echo.
However, Jason says he would have stayed on in his present role had the opportunity at the BBC not arisen.
He said: “I have enjoyed a wonderful 22 years in the regional press, including 12 years as an editor.
“I have been fortunate to work for some great titles, with great people, in great communities.
“I’d like to thank all those who have helped me develop my career in Johnston Press and – more importantly – every single member of my various teams who helped make my role as an editor so rewarding and so much fun.
“I wish them and Johnston Press every success in the future.”
Jason began his journalism career in 1993 as a reporter on the Northampton Chronicle & Echo, before joining the Buckingham Advertiser and Review Group as deputy news editor.
After four years he moved to the Coventry Evening Telegraph to work as a sub-editor before returning to Buckingham as become deputy editor.
He served as Daventry Express editor from 2003 to 2007 before moving to the same position at the Guardian.
Jason will continue in his role while JP considers his new replacement, as the ‘newsroom of the future’ project continues to be introduced across the country.
The scheme, which was piloted in the North Midlands and South Yorkshire, has seen journalists working across multiple titles within certain geographic regions.
Added Jason: “I have already seen some of the benefits the project can bring to newsrooms and had the opportunity with the BBC not arisen I would have been happy to support its continued development.”
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Jason’s ringing endorsement of JP’s ‘newsroom of the future’ (last par) sure points the way to “exciting” times ahead for those who are left. (Is there anyone left?) Anyway, the BBC job came up at just the right time by the sound of it, although Jason could’ve exercised free will and decided to stay, experiencing “happiness” (as he puts it) as the ‘newsroom of the future’ inexorably becomes one for the present.
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Sounds like Jason had an escape route just at the right time. I wonder what will happen at the titles he leaves behind. They’ll probably be added to the responsibilty of another editor already editing 18 titles!
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He who laughs last, laughs loudest.
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Should enjoy the humous at the BBC before David Cameron drives through the place with a bulldozer sponsored by News International and David Attenborough winds up presenting shows about celebrity toilet habits.
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The BBC is making hundreds of journalists redundant but at the same time taking on new people…very strange.
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Old Newsman
I think it depends who you are. Most of the people I know who work at te beeb didn’t apply for jobs, they just got given them. More jobs for the boys at the beeb than Haliburton.
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I’ve worked with Jason and he is an absolute gentleman and an old-school journalist. You know, the type that cared about their community, researched and wrote a story by speaking to the real people, not just repurposing (badly) a provided release. I wish him the very best of luck. The homogenised nonsense that JP titles are becoming aren’t worth the stress. They are all but the same paper apart from the masthead, from Northampton to Hemel.
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http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2015/news/six-editor-roles-to-be-axed-in-regional-publishers-restructure/
Just a few months ago HTFP listed Jason as one of the editors whose job was at risk…..
I wish him well in his new role. A wise move, I reckon.
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Maybe as a JP chief he was given a better explanation of how NotF-up works than all the indians who are expected to make it work with precious little information. eg next weekend someone has to provide group weekend cover but still doesn’t know the names of the titles they’re working for, or the places they have to cover.
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As a JP journalist working in Newsroom Of The Future I must say I am very happy.
I can’t comment on Jason leaving, but I will say that no one I work with wants the old system back. Journalists are out on jobs much more, just like the good old days, and emphasis is placed on off-diary stories.
We also have the time and support we need to make every story the best it can be.
Sometimes the right new job comes at the wrong time, but that shouldn’t be a reflection on NROTF which has been widely welcomed by staff.
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If JP journo is right we should all be cheering. Anyone working in similar centre have a view?
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Re JP journo’s post….extreme sarcasm alert! (I suspect)
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I wasn’t being sarcastic. It really is good! Good luck to Jason in his new role, the one he’s leaving behind is far from a poisoned chalice for whoever takes over.
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