July 9, 2015

After high-profile redundancies, editor announces Mirror nationals shake-up to help ‘tackle challenges ahead’

Mirror editor-in-chief Lloyd Embley has announced a senior editorial shake-up to prepare the newspapers for the "challenges ahead".

The moves come after several recent high-profile redundancies were made across the newspapers.

Reporter/night news editor Don Mackay, south of England reporter Euan Stretch, news reporter Adrian Shaw and feature writer Alun Palmer – "dubbed the Liam Gallagher of the Daily Mirror by The Times", according to the Mirror website – are among those to have lost their jobs.

In addition, Press Gazette revealed last month that Daily Mirror special correspondent David Collins was leaving the newspaper for The Sunday Times Insight team.

Embley informed staff of the following moves yesterday:

Head of news Barry Rabbetts has been made executive editor (content). Reporting to Pete Picton, editorial director of Mirror Online, he will have "a responsibility to drive effective and efficient coverage of live stories online and in print"
Mirror assistant news editor Tom Carlin as been made head of news (daily) and is "tasked with continuing to break the great exclusives that have won the Mirror a whole host of awards"
Sunday Mirror and Sunday People head of news Lee Harpin has been made agenda editor. Embley said: "Following on from the excellent audience results we saw during the election, he will ensure the Mirror is at the heart of the political and social affairs debate. Campaigns and specials will be a key element of his duties as he bridges the gap between print and online"
Sunday Mirror reporter Nick Owens has been made head of news (Sundays), Dominic Herbert has been made news editor (Sundays) and Aaron Sharp has been made assistant news editor (Sundays)
Tim Pedley has been made chief sub (daily) and Tony Smith chief sub (Sundays). Kat Derbyshire has moved from the Sunday People to become deputy chief sub on the Daily and Sunday Mirrors. Embley said: "This middle bench reorganisation ensures we make the very best of our phenomenal talent."

In the email Embley said: "All of these appointments will help us tackle the challenges ahead.

"We can't pretend things will be easy but we can make sure we are organised in the best possible way.

"Change is never far away in our industry so it is crucial that we play to our considerable strengths.

"I firmly believe that this reorganisation will make us stronger – and more agile."

In May, Embley announced that 27 jobs were at risk of redundancy, including all 14 across Mirror website offshoots Ampp3d, UsvsTh3m and Row Zed, as well as the title’s “social content team.

In addition, 13 editorial jobs in print – from the Sunday People/Sunday Mirror production and the district teams – have also been put at risk. A number of new jobs were also being created.