The director of communications of the Police Service of Northern Ireland is to become the new editor of the News Letter in Belfast,it was announced yesterday.
Austin Hunter (52)takes over on Monday from Nigel Wareing, who left last month. Mr Hunter said:"It is a huge and exciting challenge."
The pro-unionist News Letter is the world 's oldest English-language morning newspaper, dating back to 1737.
The paper has a circulation of just over 30,000. Mr Hunter began a career in journalism with the Strabane Weekly News and Tyrone Constitution (Omagh) in 1970 beforemoving to radio and television with the BBC in Northern Ireland. He was appointed communications chief with the Royal Ulster Constabulary in May 2000 before the setting up of the PSNI, working for Chief Constable Hugh Orde.
He added:"The last three years have been tremendous,but this is a great opportunity." The News Letter ,along with the Derry Journal ,Donegal Democrat ,and the Belfast News and Farming Life ,used to be part of the Trinity Mirror stable and was taken over last year by the venture capital company 3i.
Mr Wareing,former editor-in-chief of Guardian Media Group's Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers southern division, had been in the job less than a year. Mr David Montgomery, the former chief executive of Mirror Group Newspapers, is an editorial consultant with the Belfast
paper.