Reach unveils new editorial SLT

The new editorial structure at Reach encompasses eight new divisions, as follows.

1. Live News Network – led by Paul Rowland, editorial director - news
2. Brands – led by Tom Hunt, editorial director - brands
3. Audience – led by Ellen Stewart, director of audience
4. Growth – led by David Bartlett, director of editorial growth
5. Content Hub – led by Jon Livesey, director of content hub 
6. Sport – led by Jake Murtagh, director of sport
7. Transformation – led by Gary Rogers, director of newsroom transformation
8. Operations – led by Stacy Denton, director of newsroom operations

From David Higgerson, chief content officer: “Our new structure represents the biggest reorganisation we’ve ever undertaken, even more than in the early days of the digital revolution. The changes we are seeing in the landscape right now demand a wholesale change in how we operate and how we tell stories.”

According to Reach, the new divisions will operate as follows:

Live News Network 

Led by Paul Rowland, editorial director news.

This team’s journalists will be spread across England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, and create general stories – including breaking, events and diary news.

Reach says its Live News Network team will be the bedrock of its journalism. Its journalists will work in each region of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and create general stories – including breaking, events and diary news. The team will have wide reach so they’re on the ground and closest to the local, regional and national news agenda. Many will be based in brand newsrooms, working together with their journalists – with dedicated teams for the Mirror, Express and Star.

Reach’s regional audience & content directors in England, Ireland and Wales will become editors-in-chief for their regions. They’ll report to Paul – alongside Neil McIntosh, editor-in-chief for Scotland.

The editors-in-chief will be responsible for both their brands and also for delivering regional live news into the news network.

The network will also work closely with national editors and US teams to curate the right general news stories for their audiences.

Regional Print Production for England, Scotland and Wales, the data unit, What’s on and Immersive storytelling teams – plus a new digital graphic art team and a Forward Planning lead – will all be part of the Live News Network.

Brands

Led by Tom Hunt, editorial director – brands.

This team will be responsible for making sure Reach’s national brands develop distinctive content, grow more loyal relationships with audiences and attract new followers. It will also work with regional teams to develop their brands.

This team will help Reach’s national brands develop distinctive content, grow more loyal relationships with existing audiences and attract new ones. It will also work closely with regional editors-in-chief to develop their distinctive brands. 

Its national editors, editorial director for under 35s and online safety editor will all be part of this team’s leadership – reporting to Tom.

This means that Tom is stepping down from his role as Express editor-in-chief.

Audience

Led by Ellen Stewart, director of audience.

This team will cover everything around insight & analysis and setting Reach’s targets, as well as its video and distribution strategy.

The Audience team will become a one-stop-shop for audience development, working as a network of specialists who are also embedded into newsrooms to strengthen partnerships.

It’ll bring together the existing Insights and Distribution functions, and also be the home of the new video function, under the leadership of Anna Jeys (who becomes director of audience & engagement).

Reach says that’ll enable them to tell more audio and video stories – from short social clips to longer-form vodcasts and videos - and make sure they create the best possible opportunities for them to be showcased.

The video team will work closely with Studio, who will be leading on direct revenue-driving video formats under Harrie Dumenil’s leadership.

The Audience team will provide more insight and guidance to all Reach's newsrooms to help them make the best possible content choices for their audiences. 

Growth

Led by David Bartlett, director of editorial growth.

This team will build on the work of affiliates. It will have a bigger remit for finding new ways and places for Editorial to make money – including leading Reach’s new digital subscriptions strategy, marketing, and the evolution of Business Live and maximising In Your Area.

Content Hub

Led by Jon Livesey, director of content hub

Reach says it will continue building on the success of the Content Hub. The hub will keep focused on starting, leading and joining topical conversations across lifestyle, money, social media, leisure and entertainment. The publisher is also adding travel and gaming to the Content Hub’s list of story topics.

The team will play a big part in maintaining and growing Reach’s audience, particularly through a fresh and innovative approach to targeting Google Discover and a focus on meeting people where they are through video content.

Sport

Led by Jake Murtagh, director of sport.

This team will continue to own Reach’s sports content, in the new structure already announced, with its new video team working to reach more people in more ways.

The Sport team will continue to create sports content, freeing up brand journalists to focus on stories unique to their titles, and aims to reach more people across more platforms - in particular through video.

Transformation

Led by Gary Rogers, director of newsroom transformation.

This team will guide the evolution of Editorial, in a world that is being rapidly changed by AI. They’ll have a big focus on how to harness the power of AI without losing sight of Reach’s most fundamental work – creating high-quality stories. 

The team will work across the whole of Editorial to make sure technology supports Reach’s work effectively and gives them new ways of working that cut low value work and give them all more time to create the journalism they’re rightly proud of, says the publisher.

Operations

Led by Stacy Denton, director of newsroom operations.

This team will control costs, manage contracts and make sure newsrooms – and all of Editorial – run smoothly.

This team will make sure Editorial runs efficiently and effectively - and work hard to make its journalists’ lives easier.

Print production for Reach’s English, Scottish and Irish nationals will move into Newsroom Operations and be led by David Dick in his new role as head of print - nationals. His team will produce work closely with title editors on presenting Reach’s journalism in print. 

The central photographic team will continue to look after image management for nationals, working as part of this team.

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