Announcement of new editor-in-chief of The Age and The Sunday Age

Fairfax Media today announced that Paul Ramadge has been appointed editor-in-chief of The Age and The Sunday Age, effective from today.

Paul is currently senior deputy editor and has been acting editor-in-chief of the newspaper since Mr Andrew Jaspan left two weeks ago.

As editor-in-chief he will be responsible for maintaining and growing The Age’s very high standards, excellence in journalism, vigour and connection to Melbourne as the State’s leading quality newspaper.  He will also manage the operational changes announced recently as part of a company-wide transformation plan.

The CEO and Publisher, Victorian Metropolitan and Community Publishing, Don Churchill, said:

 "Paul has outstanding experience in journalism, as a reporter and editor, and brings enormous skills to the helm of The Age.  Our newspapers will benefit from new editorial and executive leadership for the important stage that lies ahead. 

"Paul has the confidence of the company.  I know he will see the paper through any challenges we face and ensure The Age's continuing success.  It is a measure of our great editorial depth that we can promote from within for this major role."

The Chief Executive of Australian Publishing and Printing, Mr Brian McCarthy, said:

“Paul Ramadge has had an outstanding career in journalism, and will be a fine editor for The Age.  He is the best person to take The Age forward and ensure its continuing leadership and success. I look forward to working with him."

Paul Ramadge said: "It is a great privilege to lead The Age's editorial team. There was a time, many years ago, when my goal was simply to join the paper. To be editor-in-chief is a wonderful honour.

"Much has been said about the current challenges at The Age. We, the team at The Age, will work extremely hard to maintain editorial quality and integrity. We will continue to be creative, innovative and thought-provoking. We are passionate about these values, and we know how much The Age means to so many people.

"The Age has faced many twists and turns in its distinguished past. We will face more as we adapt to a multi-media future. What we won't do is forget what makes a great paper, what is dearest to us, as journalists, and what is dearest to our readers and advertisers.

"These are challenging but exciting times for newspapers like The Age."

Paul has held many senior editorial roles at The Age including senior deputy editor since June 2005.  He has also been editor of the paper’s sections, Saturday editor, night editor, and executive editor.

His previous editorial roles were as editor-in-chief of The Newcastle Herald, one of the country’s biggest regional newspapers, from 1993 to 1996 during a period of considerable change. Earlier in his career, after reporting and editing roles, he cut his teeth editing newspapers for the Macquarie Publications group in western NSW.

He has travelled widely to study the challenges and opportunities in the media world. He has a keen interest in American politics and the American-Australian relationship. He has studied management at the Australian Graduate School of Management and politics at the University of New England.

His personal interests outside family and friends include literature, Italian language and culture, the Richmond Football Club and cycling.

Contact:
Bruce Wolpe
Director Corporate Affairs
+61 2 9282 3640
bwolpe@fairfaxmedia.com.au

 

Source: Fairfax Media
Release Date: 12 Sep 2008 00:00