By Sarah Lagan
Sutton Coldfield Observer editor Gary Phelps has been promoted to
group editor at the paper’s publisher, Central Independent Newspapers
following Sam Holliday’s departure to edit the Bath Chronicle.
He will overlook seven weekly titles, including the group’s flagship
Walsall Advertiser – where he first worked as a journalist – the
Tamworth Herald and the Cannock Mercury.
Phelps has spent his
entire career at CIN, having joined the group in 1991 as an editorial
assistant. He worked his way up to become editor of the Litchfield
Mercury before editing the Sutton Coldfield Observer for five years.
While
on secondment in March, Phelps helped out on a major redesign of the
Tamworth Herald that included more white space, shorter lead stories
and less negative coverage of the area. Although the latest ABC figures
show the paper is down two per cent, Phelps is confident of an imminent
turn around.
He said: “It’s a strong paper and there have been
signs over the last few weeks that readers are starting to take to the
redesign. We did some reader research on the redesign and I think we
can strengthen the entertainment pages.”
He added: “I’m delighted
to get the job. The Herald is a wonderful paper and I’ve inherited a
good department from Sam Holliday.”
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