Brisbane Times editor quits for role outside journalism

Brisbane Times editor Sean Parnell is stepping down after more than three years in the job.

Parnell, who worked at The Australian’s Queensland bureau for years before taking on the role with Nine’s digital-only masthead in 2021, said in an email to subscribers that he was moving away from news.

“I’m saying goodbye to Brisbane Times and taking on a new challenge, and opportunity, outside of journalism,” he wrote. “This newsroom has changed almost as much as Brisbane in the time I’ve been here.”

L-R: James Chessell, Mike Sneesby, Tory Maguire and Sean Parnell

Parnell is the author of the 2013 book Clive: The Clive Palmer Story, which appears to be the only full-length biography of the mining billionaire.

In the note announcing his departure to readers, Parnell spruiked BT’s performance with some market research.

“Factoring in the entire Queensland media scene, BT subscribers are the most likely to feel a sense of connection with their news source, and the most likely to recommend it to others.”