Long-serving Isle of Wight County Press editor Alan Marriott will step down next year and be replaced by two editors.
Newsquest said Marriott “is partly retiring but will retain an ambassadorial role with the County Press”. By the time he steps down, in March 2023, he will have been at the newspaper just shy of 39 years. He has been editor since 2007 except for a brief period he spent as publisher in 2019 to 2020.
Marriott’s successors are Lucy Morgan and Lori Little, previously the audience and content editor and head of content respectively.
Marriott said: “I have had a great career in local newspaper journalism and have loved every minute. The move to digital has been a fascinating experience over the past two decades. I have worked with some top journalists, not least Lori and Lucy, who will be great successors and will serve the Isle of Wight’s people well. I am looking forward to seeing them further accelerate our digital progression while at the same time producing superb County Press newspapers.”
Morgan, who joined the County Press in 2020 after more than 20 years working at broadcasters around the Solent, said: “We know we have big shoes to fill – Alan has been such an important name in Island journalism for decades and moving forward, we’re thrilled he’s chosen to continue to represent the brand in the community, as ambassador.”
Little, who has been with the County Press since 2001, said: “Our digitally-focused newsroom has the biggest team of professionally trained local journalists of any Island media outlet and it’s an exciting time to be taking the reins. Lucy and I are sad to see Alan leave the newsroom but will follow in his footsteps as champions of Island businesses, charities, community groups, etc. Send us your news!”
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