Monday, September 04, 2006

Portsmouth News Editor Gets Scotsman Job

Breaking news, 1.45pm: The editor of The News newspaper in Portsmouth has been appointed the new editor of The Scotsman. Mike Gilson emerged as the successful candidate, catching most, if not all, pundits by surprise who had former Herald editor, Mark Douglas-Home, as favourite for the job, with former Sunday Herald editor, Andrew Jaspan, as a late strong possibility.

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Gilson to edit The Scotsman

Portsmouth News editor Mike Gilson is to become the new editor of The Scotsman.

The 43-year-old has been editor of Johnston Press's daily newspaper in Portsmouth since 2000, and also previously edited the group's Peterborough Evening Telegraph.

He said: "I am delighted to be appointed to such a prestigious and challenging post. The Scotsman has a fantastic history and plays a pivotal role in Scottish life.

"I am a committed journalist and any newspaper I edit places itself at the centre of debate, sparks opinion and is talked about.

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New editor for Scotsman newspaper

The Scotsman newspaper, based in Edinburgh, has appointed a new editor.
Mike Gilson, 43, is currently the editor of The News, a local newspaper in Portsmouth run by Johnston Press. He will replace John McGurk.

Johnston Press bought The Scotsman and other titles from the Barclay brothers last year.

Mr Gilson's appointment will surprise some in the media who had seen former Herald Editor Mark Douglas-Home as a favourite for the job.

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Portsmouth's Gilson to edit The Scotsman

Mike Gilson, editor of The News in Portsmouth, has been named as the new editor of The Scotsman.

Gilson, who has been an editor of Johnston Press titles for 10 years, and has edited The News since 2000. He was previously editor of the Peterborough Evening Telegraph.

He is a member of the Press Complaints Commission's code committee after having served on Johnston Press' Editorial Review Group. He is chairman of the company's Digital Publishing Working Party advising on future newsroom operations in the digital age.

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Scotsman names new editor

Mike Gilson, editor of the News in Portsmouth, has been named editor of one of Johnston Press's flagship titles, the Scotsman.
In a move that will take him from the south coast of England to Edinburgh, Mr Gilson, 43, takes over the Scotsman editor's chair from John McGurk, who left Scotsman Publications in June after two years at the helm.

Johnston Press bought the Scotsman from the Barclay brothers in December last year for £160m.

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