Australia’s leading newspapers are in the midst of a shake-up with the movement of editors abounding in recent days.
The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Whittaker has confirmed he will be moving to The Australian as editor-in-chief, replacing long-time figurehead Chris Mitchell who announced his retirement for December 11. Whittaker says of the news: “It is a tremendous honour and responsibility to lead The Australian, one of the world’s great mastheads.”
The official News Corp statement crafted by new CEO Peter Tonagh and new chairman Michael Miller says: “Paul’s credentials as editor-in-chief are exemplary and his leadership will affirm The Australian’s place as the nation’s most significant newspaper. His previous experience on The Australian as editor, deputy editor and national chief-of-staff will ensure the paper maintains the momentum and journalistic excellence driven by Chris Mitchell.”
It seems Whittaker will have big shoes to fill - Mitchell’s dedication in the 13 years he held as The Australian’s editor-in-chief have not gone amiss by the paper’s owner Rupert Murdoch who commented: “Thanks to your leadership, The Australian has never been better than it is now, and today it is the embodiment of the hopes and ideals we had for the paper when we launched 51 years ago.” Mitchell is not expected to completely cut ties with the paper, with rumours afoot that he will run a weekly column in the national broadsheet.
Replacing Whittaker at The Daily Telegraph will be Chris Dore - who is moving down south for the role from his current position as editor of Queensland’s The Courier Mail, before which he was deputy editor of The Sunday Telegraph and The Australian.
Dore is proud to have been considered for such a widely read publication, commenting: “There is no more important news brand in NSW than The Daily Telegraph, which proudly stands up for, represents, informs and entertains readers in every suburb of Sydney and in each town throughout the state.”
