A reporter is leaving a regional daily after more than four decades on its sports desk.
Bill Lothian is taking voluntary redundancy from the Edinburgh Evening News, where he has been rugby correspondent for the past 33 years, and is expected to leave the title before the end of March.
In October it was announced by parent company Johnston Press that the Evening News would be merged with sister titles The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday with the loss of between 35 and 45 jobs.
Announcing his decision on his own personal Twitter account, Bill referenced footballer Steven Gerrard’s recent decision to move from Liverpool, where he had spent his entire career, to play in America’s MLS.
Using his Twitter handle @Rugbyhack, he wrote: “As Stevie G heads to MSL [sic] 1 club man Rugbyhack ponders whether there is a journalistic equivalent? Taking redundancy. #ravens leaving tower?”
Among those to pay tribute to Bill on the social networking site was former Scotland rugby union international Mike Blair.
He wrote: “Hi Bill, just heard you’re hanging up the pen – best of luck in your retirement and a pleasure to have worked with you.”
It has been estimated that Bill has worked under nine editors at the Edinburgh Evening News, and 11 sports editors.
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So JP loses another good sports hack. Its weeklies seem to be 98 per cent, even 100 per cent , sent in copy, much of it sloppily written and shamefully unedited. Such a shame when sport is a good seller.
Good luck Bill, it is hard to leave but you have seen the best of the trade.
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Do you get the feeling newspapers are in stoppage time?
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Good luck to you Bill. I remember my days on the Edinburgh Evening News with much fondness.
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Onlooker.Sadly more newspaper staff will get a red card by end of year with web income dribbling.
Just a case of who, I am afraid.
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