The Press and Journal has a new editor from today with Craig Walker replacing Frank O’Donnell as part of a major restructure.
Mr O’Donnell, who was editor of The Scotsman before being recruited in 2020 to lead the successful digital transformation of Aberdeen Journals, announced his departure to staff yesterday afternoon.
He said he was sad to be leaving but incredibly proud of everything the staff had achieved during his tenure, including recently winning the coveted title of Scottish Newspaper of the Year.
“Today is my final working day as editor of the Press and Journal and Editor-in-Chief at AJL [Aberdeen Journals Ltd]," he said in a statement on Twitter yesterday.
"The last three years have been some of the most incredible and rewarding in my time as a journalist and I will forever have great memories of the team and what we achieved.
“I arrived with the ambition of finding a blueprint for sustainable digital journalism in the UK. I leave with more than 28,000 paying digital subscribers across our two main websites and the P&J as Scottish Newspaper of the Year.
Departing P&J editor Frank O'Donnell
“We have transformed a newsroom by committing to digital subscriptions as the route to sustainability, with an unrelenting focus on audiences, a radical change in structures, ambition on content, and an investment in new skills and talent.
“And we have done all this while protecting our much-loved printed products. Press and Journal remains the biggest selling regional newspaper in the UK, with our sister paper, The Courier, third.”
The Press & Journal had an average daily circulation of 26,746 in the second half of 2022, keeping it on top of the regional ABC rankings.
Mr O’Donnell added: “Thank you to all of my team in editorial, and the scores of other people in audience, data, AV, production, commercial, facilities, IT, and graphics who have helped to build this engine. It’s been a blast.
“And to our loyal readers in print and digital who have kept me right through this whole process. Your letters, emails, phone calls and social media messages have driven me mad, made me laugh and kept me sane all at the same time. We are nothing without you.”
Cuts to the editorial staff are part of a significant package of cost-saving measures being implemented by publisher DC Thomson to deal with an additional £10 million of inflationary costs.
DC Thomson chief executive Rebecca Miskin paid tribute to the way Mr O’Donnell has steered The P&J, which marks its 275th anniversary this year, towards a more sustainable digital-focused future while preserving the quality of the print edition – still the UK’s bestselling regional daily newspaper.
Mr Walker, Mr O’Donnell’s deputy and editor of Aberdeen’s Evening Express, will oversee the next stage of the transformation.
Mr Walker has worked for the Evening Express for almost 20 years and Ms Miskin said he “has been a key part in the evolution of our newsrooms in Aberdeen, Inverness and Elgin.
She added: “No-one is more knowledgeable and passionate about the region than him. Craig is exceptionally well-placed to progress our transformation, leading our talented teams with focus on serving and representing our local communities with an expanded remit as editor of the P&J.”