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Senior Newsquest editor to leave hometown paper after 10 years

IanSavageA regional daily editor is stepping down from his role after 10 years in the latest senior editorial departure from regional publisher Newsquest.

Ian Savage, group editor of Newsquest Lancashire and editor of his hometown paper The Bolton News will leave his role once a successor has been appointed.

As well as editing the News, Ian helped launch the weekly Oldham Times last year after the town’s daily paper folded and also oversees the Bury Times Group, the Westmorland Gazette and the Messenger titles.

Ian, pictured, also edited the Lancashire Telegraph in the two-year interregnum between the departure of Kevin Young in July 2015 and the appointment of Steven Thompson in July last year.

He becomes the latest in a succession of senior daily editors to leave the Newsquest group.

Since the start of 2017, they have included Perry Austin-Clarke (Bradford Telegraph and Argus and York Press), Kevin Ward (South Wales Argus), Ian Murray (Southern Daily Echo), Gary Lawrence (Oxford Mail and Swindon Advertiser), Graeme Smith (The Herald), Graham Shields (Glasgow Evening Times) and Peter John (Worcester News).

Ian originally joined Newsquest in 1987 as a senior reporter after two years with the Bury Times Group. After a short stint at the Manchester Evening News, he re-joined Newsquest in 1992.

He was appointed editor of the Bury Times group in 2005 and then editor-in-chief of The Bolton News in January 2008.

Ian said: “It has been a privilege to edit my home town newspaper, the title I grew up reading. To be at the helm in 2017 which was the 150th anniversary of The Bolton News was a very proud time.

“I have been honoured to work with many talented and dedicated staff over the years in what has been a challenging and rewarding career.

“Launching The Oldham Times within three weeks of the sad closure of the Chronicle was tough but the positive response from the community has been amazing and I am proud that we have produced such a high quality newspaper and website in the title’s first six months.

“I will be sad to leave the role that has meant so much to me but I am looking forward to new opportunities. I am delighted to still be involved with The Bolton News and Newsquest going forward.”

Nick Fellows, managing director of Newsquest North West, said: “Ian has been an outstanding editor and senior member of the North West management team.

“He will remain in position until such time a new editor has been appointed for the Bolton business. He will retain some future involvement in the North West, providing valuable experience and editorial support.

“I would like to personally thank Ian for all his hard work and commitment and I look forward to continuing our working relationship.

“The search for a new editor for the Bolton editorial team will begin.”

12 comments

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  • March 20, 2018 at 9:35 am
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    Another departing editor, and with it another statement that’s clearly been pre-approved and signed off by head office. No self-respecting journalist would use the phrase “going forward”.

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  • March 20, 2018 at 9:41 am
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    So let’s get this straight…
    The employee is “sad” and plainly doesn’t want to leave his role.
    The employer acknowledges his “hard work and commitment”.
    And yet he’s still off. In no other industry than newspapers would this be continually happening.
    Why doesn’t Newsquest save itself money, and everyone else a lot of time and bother, by just cutting to the chase and appointing one sole editor-in-chief for all its titles? It’s clearly the long-term blueprint it’s following.

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  • March 20, 2018 at 10:52 am
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    “Since the start of 2017, they have included Perry Austin-Clarke (Bradford Telegraph and Argus and York Press), Kevin Ward (South Wales Argus), Ian Murray (Southern Daily Echo), Gary Lawrence (Oxford Mail and Swindon Advertiser), Graeme Smith (The Herald), Graham Shields (Glasgow Evening Times) and Peter John (Worcester News).”
    The majority of people reading this will know a number of the highly-talented people on this list, nearly all of whom are contributing their skills to business ventures not in financial freefall. And if anyone in a position of power in Newsquest disagrees with the final two words in the last sentence, perhaps they should reward their staff properly – because at the other end of the scale, trainee reporter vacancies are being left unfilled while qualified people are leaving for jobs which DO allow them to obtain a mortgage. The ‘product’ relies on these people – without them it has no worth.

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  • March 20, 2018 at 10:57 am
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    Whatever the political or underlying reasons for his departure, Ian is one of the nice guys. Enjoyed my time at BN Towers. I wish him good luck for the future.

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  • March 20, 2018 at 11:21 am
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    sorry, but as a news item this has one serious flaw. He does not say why he is leaving. And the company does not say why he is leaving.
    All the best to him anyway.

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  • March 20, 2018 at 12:52 pm
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    He’s a great guy Ian, I just don’t know how much more talent this industry can lose before it no longer functions, if that point hasn’t been reached already.

    The local newspaper industry is like the Trump presidency, everytime you think you’ve reached the nadir you find a new low.

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  • March 20, 2018 at 1:55 pm
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    “ an outstanding editor and senior member of the North West management team”
    If I were on the NQNW management team I’d be looking over my shoulder if that’s what happens to someone apparently outstanding.

    It seems very odd he feels it a privilege to edit his hometown paper yet is leaving to persue other opportunities while still offering ‘valuable editorial experience’ though not valuable enough to keep his job it would appear.
    So many mixed messages.

    Would the last real editor turn the lights off as they leave please
    ….though looking around the industry I think they all have already

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  • March 20, 2018 at 2:56 pm
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    @Jeff Jones

    “The local newspaper industry is like the Trump presidency, everytime you think you’ve reached the nadir you find a new low.”

    Comment of the year.

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  • March 20, 2018 at 6:22 pm
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    With almost daily announcements of quality editors being let go It’s clear to me that the country’s main regional publishers no longer want editors looking at the ones who’ve been let go ‘ to persue other opportunities ‘ and weighing up the ones that are left in editor roles.
    These days they just want easy to manage yes men and women who won’t rock the boat and won’t fight their, their staff or their communities corners.
    With all the good editors going or already gone it makes you wonder what will be left of the industry in even a years time,with copy sales at rock bottom yet falling further and interest in the papers waning day by day it must surely only be a matter of time.

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  • March 21, 2018 at 12:00 pm
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    @Canary
    look around you,the number of top quality,experienced editors who’ve left the industry in the last couple of years has watered down the editor gene pool to such an extent leaving those who lack experience,leadership and sad to say, credibility, both in and out of the building.
    You can see why they’re doing it though,free falling copy sales to shocking levels means costs need to be cut so content chiefs sacrifice local news people would pay for,for easy to obtain cheap (free) RGC ,social media scrapings and generic puff to fill templated boxes and that really doesn’t require an editor any longer.

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  • March 21, 2018 at 4:31 pm
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    Did he leave of his own volition, or was he ‘stepped down’ by management? Either way, the report should have given reasons explaining the decision. If he was axed, why pander to Newsquest’s corporate evasive euphemism?

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  • March 21, 2018 at 4:58 pm
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    i suspect those editors who really care about ( falling)standards and could get out of the trade have done so. Obviously some have to soldier on for family or financial reasons , but how long before they are picked off too. Not just NQ either! The brain drain is overflowing I fear.

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