Johnston Press has unveiled the 50-strong team of journalists who will make up the new editorial staff of i.
The regional publisher – owner of the Yorkshire Post – bought the national daily in a £24m deal from ESI Media last month.
It’s now confirmed that current editor Oliver Duff will head up the new editorial team, with the first new issue out on Monday 11th April.
The deputy editor will be Andy Webster, formerly at the Sunday Times and The Independent. Fran Yeoman, Siobhan Norton and Hanna Tavner will be assistant editor (news), assistant editor (production) and assistant editor (iWeekend) respectively. Rebecca Armstrong is appointed features editor with Sophie Batterbury picture editor. Elizabeth Anderson joins as business editor from The Daily Telegraph’s business team, while Alice Jones is promoted to arts editor.
The Independent on Sunday’s arts editor Hugh Montgomery is appointed deputy arts editor. Alasdair McKay will be sports editor and Memphis Barker joins from Independent Voices as comment editor.
Michael Day, Italy correspondent at i and The Independent, returns to London to become i foreign editor. The chief reporter will be Cahal Milmo, and chief sports correspondent Kevin Garside, formerly of the Telegraph. Meanwhile Nigel Morris, formerly deputy political editor and home affairs correspondent, becomes political editor.
Editor Duff:“This is an exciting new chapter for i, and I’m delighted to continue as editor. We have a brilliantly talented team here and are thrilled to have the chance to take i forward in digital and in print.”
Jeremy Clifford, editor-in-chief at Johnston Press, added:“The i’s new editorial team is full of experience and creativity, and we’re delighted to be welcoming these journalists into the Johnston Press fold. We are confident they will continue to make the i the success it has been under the leadership of Oly. There is a huge opportunity in front of us to combine their expertise with that of the 900 journalists in Johnston Press and their knowledge across our portfolio to really provide our readers with effective and relevant content at a national level.”
The sale of the i newspaper to Johnston Press effectively spelt the end of the print edition of The Independent, which recently relaunched as an online-only title.
