Kelner: responding to the readers
The Independent has appointed a new media editor and is about to expand media coverage in its Review section and the main paper.
The Independent on Sunday is to receive a £2m investment in the next few weeks.
Editor-in-chief Simon Kelner’s decision to devote extra resources to arts and media coverage in the daily paper has been prompted by feedback from readers saying how important the areas are to them.
While the IoS revamp remains under wraps, Kelner has poached Vincent Graff, currently deputy features editor of The Times, where he oversees the media pages, to become The Independent’s associate editor (media).
Internally, Louise Jury, who writes about the media for The Independent, has been given a new role of arts correspondent, working in the newsroom.
Home affairs correspondent Ian Burrell takes up the newly created post of culture correspondent.
Burrell will work mainly off-diary on media, arts and culture investigations. He has been at the paper for five years and previously worked for the Sunday Times, Sunday Express and the Birmingham Evening Mail.
Jury has been with the company eight years, starting as a reporter on The Independent and then moving to IoS to write about media and arts before returning to the daily.
Of his new media editor, Kelner said: “I’m delighted that someone of Vince’s experience and range of contacts is coming to join us.”
Graff, 33, was the Evening Standard’s media editor before joining The Times a year ago. He worked on the Standard for 12 years, firstly on Londoner’s Diary and later as assistant features editor before moving to media in 2000.
He says he is looking forward to writing and commissioning articles for the media pages and the news section.
Graff replaces David Lister, who has become The Independent’s arts editor.
By Jean Morgan
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
