Canberra Times appoints deputy editor Grant Newton as editor, succeeding James Joyce

Newton takes on the editor role at The Canberra Times

The Canberaa Times has appointed deputy editor Grant Newton as editor having been acting editor for much of the year, succeeding James Joyce who is now executive editor of Fairfax Media’s Australian Community Media division.

Newton has been on staff at the Fairfax Media owned newspaper since 2001 and has previously held roles including features editor and deputy news editor.

Scott Hannaford takes on the deputy editor and news director role.

Hannaford began at The Canberra Times as a cadet report in 1999 and most recently was a senior writer.

The appointments of Newton and Hannaford follow the recent appointments of John-Paul Moloney as group managing editor of the Canberra region and Meredith Clisby as editor of The Sunday Canberra Times and The Chronicle.

Editorial director of Australian Community Media Rod Quinn told The Canberra Times:  “I’m confident this team of long-time Canberrans will continue The Canberra Times’ proud tradition of compelling journalism and agenda-setting local news.

“In John-Paul, Grant, Scott and Meredith we have excellent leaders who are passionate about the city and about the quality journalism its residents depend on.”

Newton said: “The challenges in the industry are big, as are the opportunities. Our role in the community is as important as ever, whether it’s campaigning to improve workplace safety, setting the agenda in covering the Mr Fluffy issue or breaking news at canberratimes.com.au.”

In the most recent audited circulation numbers, The Canberra Times posted a year-on-year decline of 18.9 per cent, down from 24,040 to 19,492.

Miranda Ward