Newspaper Article 1998 – New editor on checking visit

New editor on checking visit

Jim Eagles, the editor of Hawke’s Bay’s new regional newspaper, has wasted no time in checking out his new patch.

The former Bay of Plenty Times editor, appointed to the new job on Tuesday, has been in Hawke’s Bay this week, house-hunting and getting to know the staff and operations of the Hawke’s Bay Herald-Tribune and the Daily Telegraph.

Those who have met him have discovered that he has his own individual approach to the job.

The 53-year-old said he loved journalism to the point where he had steadfastly resisted moves into management.

He has spent most of his time this week in the two newsrooms, in his desire to get “hands on” with staff.

He starts on November 1 and will spend time with both papers as the planning continues for the regional paper’s launch in April.

His main business challenge is to ensure the new paper reflects the aspirations of the wider Hawke’s Bay community.

He is aware of some of the criticisms, especially out of Napier, but has no doubts the paper can reflect all of Hawke’s Bay.

Mr Eagles said the new newspaper would have significantly more resources available to it.

He said the regional newspaper would play an important role in breaking down the traditional Napier/Hastings rivalry.

He had the advantage of coming in without pre-conceived ideas or parochial attitudes, he said.

A former editor of the National Business Review and deputy editor of the Auckland Star, Mr Eagles has worked on newspapers in Ireland (where he won an award for investigative reporting) and England.

Mr Eagles and his wife, Chris, a former journalist he met in England, are likely to live in Napier.

Photo caption – The incoming editor of the new regional newspaper, Jim Eagles, right, discusses today’s front page with acting chief sub-editor Frank Long at the Herald-Tribune office this morning.