The editors’ code committee, which sets the rules against which complaints to the Press Complaints Commission are judged, has appointed three new senior regional editors.
Colin Grant, editor-in-chief of Iliffe News & Media East, Mike Sassi, editor-in-chief of Staffordshire Sentinel News and Media and Damian Bates, editor of Aberdeen’s Evening Express have all joined the body which reviews the voluntary code of standards overseen by the PCC.
Grant and Sassi were nominated by the Newspaper Society to replace Adrian Faber, of Wolverhampton’s Express and Star, and Doug Melloy, of the Rotherham and South Yorkshire Advertiser, who both stepped down.
Bates was nominated by the Scottish Newspaper Society, following the retirement of David Pollington of Dundee’s Sunday Post.
The three new members join just six months after Hannah Walker, editor-in-chief of the South London Press, was appointed to sit on the committee chaired by Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre.
Dacre said: “The code’s authority within the industry relies on the quality and range and depth of experience of code committee members.
“Colin Grant, Mike Sassi and Damian Bates represent the best traditions of the regional press and their experience will be invaluable in maintaining a code that commands respect both inside and outside the industry. I’m very pleased to have them on board.”
Two new national newspaper nominees to the committee will be announced at a later date.
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