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SLG
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Scotsman editor quitsThis could be more significant for Scotsman editorial policy than the initial Johnston Press take over. Interesting to see who takes over. The Herald counts Joan McAlpine as one of the contenders who I think is very favourable towards Independence.
| Quote: | Enough is enough, as McGurk quits over relentless cost-cutting
By Steven Vass
THE editor of the Scotsman resigned this weekend in frustration at the relentless cost-cutting since Johnston Press bought the paper earlier this year.
John McGurk, who held the post since October 2004, is understood to have reached his decision after expressing his unhappiness at a meeting with Scotsman Publications managing director Michael Johnston about the lack of resources.
Having apparently not been given the assurances he was looking for, he decided to resign. This will fuel speculation about whether McGurk believed his future in the post was secure and whether the company is planning editorial cutbacks or even redundancies.
While editorial has been left out of the 80-plus redundancies since Johnston Press took over, staff have recently been complaining privately about changes, such as tougher rules on expenses and the removal of the duty lawyer from the newsroom.
It is thought that McGurk has been offered the post of managing editor at the Telegraph Group by former Scotsman owners the Barclay brothers. Reporting to chief executive Murdoch MacLennan, he will reportedly oversee both Telegraph titles but focus mainly on the daily .
This will be a similar role to the one he occupied when he was editorial director of Scotsman Publications from 2001 to 2004, where he is thought to have impressed chairman Aidan Barclay.
It is thought that Barclay encouraged MacLennan to give McGurk the job, replacing Lawrence Sear, who was lured out of retirement by MacLennan to do the job temporarily after the Barclay brothers took over in 2004.
McGurk, who took The Scotsman compact shortly after becoming editor, had no further comment about his future except to say that he would leave the paper in six weeks. He said: “This is my decision. Johnston Press and I are parting very amicably and I wish them the very best success for the future of the newspapers.”
Ian Stewart, currently deputy editor, was mooted as McGurk’s most likely successor in a company which has a reputation for promoting from within.
Other possible contenders are Paul Riddell, the paper’s number three; Edinburgh Evening News editor John McLellan; former Herald deputy editor Joan McAlpine; and Press and Journal deputy Richard Neville.
Johnston Press was not available for comment. |
http://www.sundayherald.com/55598
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Cado
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Was this the chap who helped shaft the Tories?
Remember the McKletchie Taxi saga, someone on the inside (the tories) helped nobble Mcletchie, then the Scotsman did on piece saying it was, um Brian thingamebob. Basically the Scotsman Editor seemed to have shafted both of them.
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SLG
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I was under the impression that it was Paul Hutcheon of the Sunday Herald that dug up most of the dirt on McLetchie
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