UK: Times revamps news team

Posted by Kelley Vendeland on April 2, 2008 at 12:59 PM

New editor of The Times, James Harding, is installing an almost entirely new team to run the paper's news operations.

A look at the composition of the altered news desk:
- foreign editor Roland Watson has been appointed to head of news, an integrated post encompassing both print and online

- the home editor is now Martin Barrow, former foreign news editor. Barrow, who began his new job on April 1, replaces John Wellman

- Wellman will occupy the newly created post of deputy head of news

Several other members have shifted jobs; however, assistant news editor Sam Lister will remain in his current post to maintain some form of continuity.

According to MediaGuardian.co.uk, Wellman's deputy, home news editor Oliver Wright, will move to the Independent as news editor, the only member of the team to join another publication at present.

The latest restructuring comes three months after four high-ranking executives shifted posts. And the Times is not the only UK paper in the midst of major changes: both the Guardian and the Telegraph are moving towards integration and are preparing to make staffing changes along the way.

Source: MediaGuardian.co.uk