February 5, 2015

Newsquest shake-up to leave Hampshire Chronicle, Romsey Advertiser and Basingstoke Gazette without editors

Three editorial roles at Hampshire regionals will be lost as a result of Newsquest cuts.

Editors Keith Redbourn of the Hampshire Chronicle and Andrew Ross of the Romsey Advertiser will face redundancy according to a message sent to Newsquest staff.

A third editor role at the Basingstoke Gazette, left vacant when Mark Jones left to take up a charity PR role, will also be unfilled.

All three titles will be overseen by Southern Daily Echo editor and Newsquest Hampshire editor-in-chief Ian Murray.

The three titles are all paid-for weeklies with audited circulations of around 16,000 (Basingstoke Gazette), 10,000 (Hampshire Chronicle) and Romsey Advertiser (6,000).

In a message to Newsquest Hampshire staff, Murray said: “Due to the proposed introduction of the new editorial system Knowledge, it is proposed to change the way in which content gathering and sharing takes place in the Hampshire Newsquest region.

“As part of those proposed changes it is proposed to bring control of all publication titles within Hampshire Newsquest into the structure based at Redbridge and to streamline the running of head office newsroom functions.

“If the proposals are agreed the posts of editor at both the Hampshire Chronicle and Romsey Advertiser would not be part of the new structure.

“The vacant editor post at the Basingstoke Gazette will also not be filled as part of this proposal.”

In adition to the titles mentioned, Murray is also editor of the New Forest Post, Andover Advertiser, the News Extra series, Hampshire Society magazine and the New Forest Society magazine.

Redbourne, 58, was close to celebrating ten years of service at the Chronicle.

A consultation period with those affected has begun. The outcome is due to be announced on Thursday 5 March.

Newsquest has declined to comment further on the proposals.