Fairfax Editorial Development Manager

Wednesday July 28, 2004

Clive Lind Appointed Fairfax Editorial Development Manager

Fairfax NZ announced today that Clive Lind, who has been editor of three New Zealand daily newspapers, will be the company’s Editorial Development Manager.

Fairfax NZ Chief Executive Officer Brian Evans said Clive Lind will have the major tasks of leading editorial and business initiatives, particularly in ensuring that individual Fairfax newspapers continue to develop their editorial content to meet the needs of the communities they serve.

``Clive’s appointment comes at a time of exciting change in the group, as Fairfax focuses on excellence in New Zealand publishing and as we move to advance our use of technology in newsrooms and elsewhere in the business.’’

Clive Lind is currently editor of the Manawatu Standard, and previously was editor of Wellington‘s Evening Post and the Southland Times in Invercargill.

Brian Evans paid tribute to his outstanding work as an editor, noting that the Manawatu Standard had lifted the quality of its editorial content significantly during Clive Lind’s editorship.

``Clive has led the Standard to new levels of performance and we will be looking to him to assist other newspapers to continue to meet the needs of their readers.

``In his new role he will also be available to provide advice on the continuing developing of the Standard, along with our other newspapers.’’

He will take up his new position on November 1.

Clive Lind said: ``It's been a privilege to work with a highly talented editorial team in Palmerston North, and we have achieved significant results that readers have appreciated.’’

In particular, he said, The Standard's coverage of the disastrous floods of February 2004 attracted national praise and international attention.

``Covering a major disaster, the effects of which only unfold over the weeks after the initial impact, is extremely hard and demanding work and our staff were superb.’’

Numerous other new features, particularly those concentrating on the region's achievers and achievements and young people, have also been well received by readers.

In that regard, Clive Lind said a revamped Letters to the Editor section had been so successful that the paper now struggled to find space for all readers' letters. Connecting with readers in such a way meant the Standard was the major forum for debate in Manawatu.

``Working with such a willing team that relishes challenge and doing things better has been one of the most rewarding times of my career, and I'll miss them. But a new editor will bring fresh impetus to our quest for constant improvement.’’

As a reporter, Clive Lind jointly won a national prize for investigative journalism, but said his greater enjoyment was seeing young people working under his stewardship take many major awards.

Throughout his career, Lind has also been involved in significant projects ranging from the establishment of new papers to the introduction of electronic editorial systems.

He said his role in the new Fairfax position of Editorial Development Manager, based in Wellington, would be a huge change of emphasis from the day-to-day challenges of editing a daily newspaper.

Leading editorial and business improvement and helping to manage programmes to lift editorial content across the Fairfax NZ group would be an exciting opportunity at a time when new technology and change were constant.

``I'm really looking forward to working with others so that Fairfax publications keep pace with or ahead of the opportunities that lie ahead,’’ he said.

The position of editor of the Manawatu Standard will be advertised throughout the country.

ENDS

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