Trinity Mirror is merging the Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail with sister company Scottish and Universal Newspapers – to create what it claims will the country’s biggest publishing company, Media Scotland.
One consequence of the shake-up is the departure of Bruce Waddell who has been editor-in-chief of the Daily Record and Sunday Mail for the last eight years.
The restructure will see the managing director of Trinity Mirror Nationals Mark Hollinshead also become the MD of Media Scotland, and Allan Rennie – who was previously editorial development director for Trinity Mirror Nationals – appointed as editor-in-chief of the new company.
Bill Steven, the managing director of Scottish and Universal Newspapers, has been named as business development director for Media Scotland, whose portfolio features 20 local newspapers including the Ayrshire Post, Stirling Observer and the Business Insider magazine.
Trinity said it will be reaching 1.5 million readers each weekday and 1.1 million readers on a Sunday, as well as 2.6 million unique digital users a month on its websites.
Hollinshead said: ‘The creation of Media Scotland denotes the start of a dynamic new era in Scottish media.
‘With our unique blend of national and local content, the combined reach of our portfolio of print and digital brands will deliver unrivalled coverage across the Scottish market.
‘I look forward to working with our new top team in the exciting times ahead.”
Commenting on his departure, Waddell said in a statement released this morning: ‘I’ve had eight great years at the helm of the Daily Record and Sunday Mail but it’s time for change. I now look forward to a fresh challenge and exploring new opportunities.”
In August Trinity confirmed that 85 journalists had lost their jobs at the Daily Record and the Sunday Mail as part of an editorial restructure announced earlier this year that saw the design and subbing of magazine and features content outsourced to the Press Association.
It also announced plans for titles to share non-Scottish news and features with sister-titles the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Mirror and the People.
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