UK – 18 February 2016

This week’s Media Updates covers moves and changes at news titles the Independent, talkRADIO, Times Literary Supplement, Press Association, Sunday Times magazine, Women’s Health, Marie Claire, Bella, Reveal, Wall Street Journal, Telegraph, Banking Technology and ZDNet.

News & current affairs

• It has been announced that the Independent and Independent on Sunday are to cease their print editions to become digital only. The last edition of the Independent is to be printed on the 26th March and the Independent on Sunday on the 20th March.
• ESI Media have also confirmed that they will sell the i newspaper to Johnston Press.
• Amol Rajan, the editor of the Independent, will take the role of editor at large across the digitally focused Independent
• It has been reported that Trinity Mirror plans to launch a new national newspaper called New Day at the end of the month.
• talkRADIO, a new personality-driven speech radio station, is to launch on Monday 21st March 2016. Paul Ross, Sam Delaney, Julia Hartley-Brewer, Iain Lee and George Galloway will all have shows on the new station.
• UTV’s new Virgin Radio station will launch on Wednesday 30th March 2016. Former Radio 1 presenter Edith Bowman will host the breakfast show, while Jamie East, Kate Lawler, Matt Richardson and Tim Cocker will form the rest of the weekday schedule.
• Stig Abell has been appointed Editor/Publisher at the Times Literary Supplement replacing Sir Peter Stothard who is stepping down as editor after 14 years. Stothard will step down at the end of April and will remain as consultant editor.
• Steve Jones has been appointed as the new social media editor at the Press Association. He joins from ITV News online and takes up his new position on the 10th March
• Alberto Nardelli, currently data editor at the Guardian, has been appointed as the new Europe editor at BuzzFeed UK
• Ben Barker has been appointed reporter at the Caerphilly Observer
• Briana Millett has left her role as reporter at the Weston Mercury

Fashion, lifestyle and entertainment

• The Sunday Times magazine has relaunched  featuring  brand new sections, including driving, eating, tech, body and love
• Callie Thorpe has been appointed as the new ‘Curve’ columnist at Marie Claire
• Charlotte Bell has been appointed deputy fashion editor at Reveal from her previous position of acting deputy fashion editor. Additionally Harriet Davey has been promoted to fashion stylist from her previous role of fashion assistant
• Smita Mistry has been appointed senior features writer at Woman and Woman’s Own. She was previously a features writer at Take A Break
• Anna Tabrah has been appointed celebrity writer at Bella
• Claire Ridley has been appointed editor at Your West Midlands Wedding. Additionally she will be the editor at Your Devon & Cornwall Wedding when this publication launches in April. Ridley was previously the editor at WEDDING and Wedding Flowers & Accessories magazines
• Fiona Embleton has been appointed acting beauty editor at Fabulous covering Lauren Ezekiel’s maternity leave. Embleton was previously acting beauty editor at Stylist
• Jessica Salter has been appointed deputy editor at Women’s Health. She was previously the acting features director at Stylist. Additionally Amelia Jones has been promoted to health and beauty editor from her previous role as features writer
• Amanda Kavanagh has been appointed editor at Image Interiors & Living
• Laura Atri has been appointed acting editor at Wedding Flowers & Accessories. She was previously features writer at WEDDING magazine
• Florence Walker has been appointed editor at Erotic Review replacing Jamie Maclean who has stepped down from the role
• Michael Catling has been appointed staff writer at Today’s Golfer. He joins from Cash & Carry Management where he was deputy editor
• Sarah George has been appointed digital editor across Archant’s Bride portfolio. She has previously been deputy editor at Professional Hairdresser

Business and finance

• James Mackintosh has been appointed senior columnist at The Wall Street Journal where he will be covering markets. He was previously investment editor at the Financial Times
• Rhiannon Bury has been appointed business reporter at the Telegraph. She was previously news editor at Property Week
• Alex Turner has been appointed as the new editor at TheBusinessDesk.com West Midlands. He replaces Andy Coyne who has stepped down from the role
• The businessGreen digital portfolio has had a makeover which includes a fully responsive and redesigned website as well as a live app
• Tanya Andreasyan has been appointed editor and Antony Peyton has been appointed deputy editor at Banking Technology. They had both previously worked at IBS Intelligence. Andreasyan replaces the previous editor David Bannister who left to join Ovum
• Jason McGee-Abe has been appointed news and content editor at Global Telecomms Business and Capacity magazines

Health, science & technology

• Danny Palmer has been appointed senior reporter at ZDNet. He was previously a staff writer at Computing