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Editor to leave regional daily after almost 30 years in industry

Hannah ThaxterA regional daily editor is leaving her role for personal reasons after two years in charge and almost 30 in the industry.

Hannah Thaxter, left, told HTFP she is leaving the Yorkshire Evening Post “with a smile and a very satisfied heart.”

Hannah said personal reasons were taking her away from the Leeds-based newspaper’s patch to “somewhere equally beautiful” and that she was “taking some time out to enjoy the ride.”

Her current role is already being advertised on HTFP and can be found here.

Hannah was appointed editor of the YEP in February 2017, having previously worked in a group-wide communities content editor role working across 27 titles for the Johnston Press Yorkshire publishing unit.

As Hannah Ridgeway, she previously edited the Reporter series in the West Riding of Yorkshire, which includes the Dewsbury Reporter, Batley and Birstall News, Spenborough Guardian, Mirfield Reporter and Morley Observer.

Hannah told HTFP: “I’ve spent just shy of 30 years of my life working as a journalist – from trainee reporter on the then daily Halifax Courier to the past two years or so as editor of the Yorkshire Evening Post – and I can honestly say I would not change it for the world.

“This job has given me access to places I might never have been and people I may never have had the opportunity to meet. Journalism allows you to be a part of people’s lives and I’ve never taken that for granted – people are so generous with their time and often so welcoming in the most difficult of circumstances.

“Along the way I know I’ve been able to make a difference to one or two people, projects or causes. But above all, the people I have had the good fortune to work with are what have made this job so enjoyable.

“The greatest pleasure I have had has been in seeing young journalists start out their careers and watching and helping them to grow and develop as reporters and to see them fulfill their potential and ambitions.”

Hannah added she was leaving the YEP “at a time of record audiences” for the title.

She said: “We all know print is a challenge, but we’ve worked hard here to provide a quality paper for our loyal newspaper readers whilst growing our online readership month on month.

“There is a fantastic team of journalists here at the YEP – a great mix of experience and youth.

“I’m a firm believer in bringing on the next generation of journalists and I’ve been involved in that training here and developed close connections with the universities which offer journalism courses.

Hannah’s announcement comes in the week she is due to  be presented with an honorary fellowship in journalism at Leeds Trinity University, which she described as “the perfect full stop” to her career.

She added: ” It is an award that I was extremely humbled to be offered, and I am very much looking forward to receiving it on Thursday.”

“After working full-time, non stop, since the age of 18, and working as a journalist since I was 23, I’m ready for a bit of a rest. Personal reasons are taking me away from this beautiful area to somewhere equally beautiful and I’m lucky enough to be able to have a little time out to enjoy the ride and to take stock and think about what comes next for me.

“Whoever takes up this editorship next is very lucky indeed – they will have a vibrant city around them and a superb hard-working team at their back. I’m going out with a smile and a very satisfied heart onto the next phase of my life.”

3 comments

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  • July 16, 2019 at 3:41 pm
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    Well done Hannah. Enjoy your freedom and best wishes for the future. It was a pleasure working alongside you in Halifax all those years ago. Smiles all round.

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  • July 16, 2019 at 4:57 pm
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    Quite an achievement to work that long at JP/JPI. Good time to be getting out.

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  • July 17, 2019 at 1:49 pm
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    Such invaluable experience is a big loss to the industry. A lot of high quality journalists have quit in recent years and it is showing in rather a negative way as standards slip and “slop it in” becomes the mantra. Good luck Hannah and I hope you are happy in your new life.

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