Two Reach editors have announced they are leaving their roles, just hours after the publisher revealed fresh cuts plans.
Ian McNeal, who edits the Teesside Gazette and its Teesside Live sister website, has stood down from the post after an association with his hometown newspaper that dates back 20 years.
Personal news claxon — I am today standing down as editor of @TeessideLive after more than 13 years working at the Gazette (and 20 years since my first stint).
It has been an honour and privilege to edit my hometown paper and thank my colleagues over the years for their support— Ian McNeal (@IanMcNeal) March 14, 2023
Meanwhile, Cheshire Live editor Frances Barrett, who has run the title since its launch in 2018, has also confirmed her departure.
Apologies for the dreaded –personal news alert — but I’m going to be a little self-indulgent for a moment… today marks my last day with Reach plc, after nearly 10 years. I started out as a timid, shy print reporter covering a really small rural area 1/2 — — Frances Barrett (@FrancesABarrett) March 14, 2023
Frances and Ian’s announcements came as publisher Reach revealed plans to cut 192 journalism jobs across the country and a day after Alison Gow, the company’s interim audience and content director for video and audio, announced she was also leaving the business.
McNeal began his career in 2003 and worked as a financial journalist at the Middlesbrough-based Gazette before moving to PA in 2005. He also specialised in finance reporting there before returning to the Gazette in 2009. Ian previously held senior roles including head of content and digital editor before taking up the titles’ editorship.
Barrett joined the Chester Chronicle as a reporter in 2013 and later became content editor, before taking on Cheshire Live in 2018.
