As we indicated in our final issue for 2022, we start the year having made a few changes and, for now, we are still recruiting a new permanent editor.
Given this, I thought it would be good to run through some of the changes and what we have in place as we start the new year.
I am pleased to confirm that Sam Baggott has been appointed general manager for the King Country News.
Sam provides the day-to-day senior leadership for the business and continues to drive the sales and advertising team activities specifically.
Andy Campbell is stepping in to provide day-to-day leadership for our four-strong King Country-based editorial team. Andy is first port of call for editorial matters.
We will also be taking advantage of other editorial resources across our group in the meantime, including Neryda McNabb, the editor of our sister papers, The Beacon and Ōpōtiki News.
Neryda has worked in community newspapers for more than 30 years as a journalist. In the past five years as editor, Neryda has steered The Beacon to success, recognised as New Zealand’s Community Newspaper of the year for three out of the past four years at the New Zealand Voyager Media Awards.
We will bring together the best of our fantastic King Country News team, as well as resources and expertise from our other papers. Our staff are proud to continue to produce the best King Country News we can.
The easiest way to connect with Sam, Andy, or any of our team is to pop into our office in Te Kūiti, call our office on 07 878 1188, or email reception@kingcountrynews.co.nz and Jo will make sure to forward your query to the relevant team member.
For those of you who might previously have called or emailed our Ōtorohanga office, phone calls and emails will be automatically directed to the above number and email.
Finally, a big thanks to the i-SITE team in Ōtorohanga who have taken on looking after our stand for those of you that like to pick up a paper from the main street in Ōtorohanga while you are in town.
As previously communicated, household, retailer, and business deliveries into Ōtorohanga will continue.
Thanks for your ongoing support as we start the new year.
Aaron Buist CEO Beacon Media Group
