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New editor takes charge at West Country weekly

Regional publisher Newsquest has appointed a new editor to oversee a group of West Country weeklies.

Paul Jones takes over at the Somerset County Gazette on Monday, replacing Zena O’Rourke who left the paper in December.

Paul, whose full title will be head of news for Newsquest Somerset and Devon, was previously news and production editor at the Taunton-based title.

In his new role he will also oversee the Chard & Ilminster News, Bridgwater Mercury and Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News.

Paul-1

Paul, pictured above, will be the third editor to take charge at the County Gazette in the space of just over a year.

Zena originally arrived as editor last April from the Local World-owned Cornish Guardian, replacing Alex Cameron who left the paper in February 2015 for an NHS PR role.

Paul’s appointment was announced to staff this week by Liz Bond, publisher of Newsquest Somerset.

She said:  “I am sure you will all join me in congratulating Paul and wishing him every success in his new role.”

8 comments

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  • February 25, 2016 at 4:54 pm
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    Well, with Liz at the helm he may just stand a better chance of success.

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  • February 25, 2016 at 8:05 pm
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    Good luck Paul. When we met at 7am this morning outside the office I did not know about your new job!

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  • February 26, 2016 at 9:43 am
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    Lovely guy and well done on his appointment, but spot the sub text: “Head of News”, continuing Newsquest’s policy of disinvesting in proper resource for editors. Their path towards cost-cutting/fattening up continues unabated.

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  • February 26, 2016 at 9:46 am
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    We were all extremely sorry to see Zena leave as she had already made significant improvements in the brief time she was editing the papers. Paul is a good successor. The bosses here have, at last, started to appoint some decent people to make the changes necessary to the papers.

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  • February 26, 2016 at 7:54 pm
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    People do change jobs frequently in this industry don’t they? It’s a bit of a revolving door. Shame Zena couldn’t have stayed longer.

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