National World moves titles into its Cities structure

National World says these changes mean the Cities group will now include websites in 15 major UK cities, with each site led by a locally-based editor, supported by Cities editor-in-chief Nancy Fielder and publisher Laura Collins and three newly-appointed publishing editors.

From today (6th February) The News, Portsmouth, Sunderland Echo and Shields Gazette will move into the City World structure. Ross Robertson is appointed as editor for the Sunderland Echo, with Kelly Brown becoming editor in for The News, Portsmouth. Liam Kennedy, editor of Newcastle World, will also take over the editorship of Shields Gazette, added the publisher.

The Blackpool Gazette and Lancashire Evening Post are presently advertising for new editors and these titles will join the Cities structure when they are appointed.

As part of the move three regional daily editors- Mark Waldron in Portsmouth, Nicola Adam in the North West and Gary Oliver in the North East -will move into new group-wide roles as publishing editors, reporting into publisher Laura Collins, with responsibility for aligning content, audience and revenues across the country.

As well as maintaining publishing responsibility for Portsmouth, Mark will take responsibility for the City Worlds in London, Birmingham and Bristol; Nicola will add Liverpool, Manchester and Yorkshire to her North West city remit and Gary will add Newcastle to his North East city portfolio along with Glasgow and Edinburgh.

They will play a pivotal role in maximising digital opportunities for the City World portfolio to develop new revenue opportunities that support and complement editorial and commercial content plans as well as growing digital audiences to build new revenue streams, National World added.

National World launched seven new City World sites just over a year ago and have seen their digital audiences grow from strength to strength. A further three of National World’s daily titles - Edinburgh Evening News, The Star in Sheffield and Yorkshire Evening Post in Leeds - joined in the summer.

The changes are timed to coincide with the latest National World campaign, We Love Our Cities, which firmly champions and celebrates their individual identities.

Cities editor in chief Nancy Fielder said: “Our team has seen huge success over the last year with the launch of new City sites and changes to help some of our longest established titles reach even more readers and viewers.

“We are incredibly proud of how our fantastic reporters adapt to ever changing audiences and are really looking forward to welcoming the five new Cities into new ways of working.”