A long-serving regional daily editor has announced he is stepping down after nearly 15 years in the role.
Roy Wright, left, editor of the Huddersfield Examiner since 2002, will stand down from his post next month.
The move was announced on the day Examiner publisher Trinity Mirror unveiled plans for a major restructure across its regional operations which will see 78 existing jobs axed and 44 new ones created.
Roy, who joined the paper from the Liverpool Echo in May 2002, said that after 15 years the time was right to seek a new challenge.
He said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Examiner and have been lucky to work with some outstanding individuals.
“It’s been a remarkable period of change – when I came in 2002 we were a black and white on-the-day broadsheet.
“Now we are a genuine multi media newsroom generating around half a million video views this month while maintaining a very respectable print performance.
“I will miss the Examiner and I’ll especially miss the friends I’ve made but after 15 years I feel the time is right to find a new challenge, knowing the Examiner is in very safe and capable hands.”
As previously reported on HTFP, the paper helped campaign group #HandsOffHRI collect a petition containing more than 134,000 signatures which has been presented to Prime Minister Theresa May.
Roy has also continued to promote the cause of former Examiner journalist Adrian Subdury who died of leukaemia in 2008.
Adrian inspired many during his battle with leukaemia and chose to spend his final days campaigning for young people to be educated about bone marrow, blood and organ donation.
Rob Irvine, editor in chief for Trinity Mirror Manchester and Huddersfield, said: “Roy is one of the most naturally talented journalists I know. He is a truly great story teller who has created some memorable front pages over the years.
“I wish him and his family every good fortune for the future.”
Trinity Mirror’s editorial director regionals, Neil Benson, added: “Roy has steered the Examiner into the digital era with great skill, achieving excellent online audience growth while producing a high-quality newspaper that champions its community.
“Never one to seek personal accolades, Roy has led his team expertly, in his own quietly effective way. The Examiner punches well above its weight, which is a tribute to Roy’s ability as a journalist and an editor. We wish him every success for the future.”
Trinity Mirror said an announcement regarding Roy’s successor will follow in due course.
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Good luck to roy and his “the time was right to seek a new challenge” line, presumably he can clearly see the future and has decided enough is enough.
Surely the challenge would have been to stay and work through this latest carnage but who can blame him jumping off the TM merry go round before it spins completely off its axis.
Good time to go Roy, best of luck with your “new challenge”
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All the best, Roy.
An absolutely top journalist and editor, and a very splendid fellow.
A hell of a lot of talent, which is now Trinity Mirror’s loss, will soon be someone’s gain.
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Roy is a great Editor and the Examiner will miss him hugely. Congrats on 15 great years Boss and best of luck.
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Nobody dispenses with talent quite like TM.
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Top man. Very best of luck in whatever you do next Roy.
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“I will miss the Examiner and I’ll especially miss the friends I’ve made but after 15 years I feel the time is right to find a new challenge, knowing the Examiner is in very safe and capable hands.”
What a sad thing to have to say. Perhaps constrained by a legal document – or no decent redundancy?
This is yet another demonstration of more publishers going down the slippery slope of short-term-gain – without the quality advisers with balls who can think of a long-term strategy.
So very sad to se my beloved industry being destroyed. Got out after 36 years (21 as Editor) and learned to smile again.
Still miss the chase and hunt for that `best story’. So glad I never found it . . .
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