The editor of failed national daily newspaper The New Day, Alison Phillips, has been appointed as deputy editor-in-chief of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People.
Phillips takes up the new post less than a week after The New Day’s closure on Friday, 6 May. The paper, billed as an “upbeat” and “optimistic” take on the news at its launch on Monday 29 February, survived for just 50 editions over nine weeks.
Before taking on the role of editor of The New Day, Phillips had responsibility for the Sunday People and Sunday Mirror as weekend editor.
According to a spokesperson for Trinity Mirror, Phillips’ new seven-day role represents a “significant change to our working practices”. She said Phillips would “focus on our editorial strategy, exploring and defining our priorities and ensuring that these are clearly communicated so that we all have clarity on our editorial direction and how this will be achieved”.
Phillips will also return as a weekly Mirror columnist and continue to file regular opinion pieces and features. She will report to editor-in-chief Lloyd Embley.
Her appointment is one of a number to be announced today by the publisher. Peter Willis is appointed Daily Mirror Editor and Pride of Britain director, he was previously weekday editor of the Daily Mirror.
Gary Jones is appointed Sundays editor (heading up the Sunday Mirror and People) and Paul Henderson becomes executive editor (seven days) working across all titles, and will edit the Sunday titles when Jones is away.
Caroline Waterston is appointed deputy editor and and Clare Fitzsimons is appointed head of features across seven days.
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