All Change at the Press

By General Manager, Gordon Gray-Lockhart
The 50th year of production of the Stratford Press has seen a few changes. From the current front page with our Jubilee banner and our 50th year sponsors, through some of the exciting new features we've rolled out over the first few months.
Now, I have pleasure in announcing a very promising change for the future of the Press that you, our loyal and supportive readers enjoy so much on a weekly basis.
Some of you may have noticed that over the past few weeks we've been recruiting for a new person to join our successful advertising sales team. Well, from the many qualified applicants a star shone brightly.
Jessica Ranginui, our long suffering and talented Editor, who had applied for the role was clearly the best candidate. Her thorough knowledge of Press operations, together with her clear dedication to the people of Stratford and her obvious sales talent won through. Jessica was very pleased to have been offered the job and said this was the next logical step for her, having seen the editorial side of a newspaper for so long, it was time to see the commercial side of the business.
"I have had an extremely awesome time as Editor of the Press and will dearly miss the role. However, the Editor's role is very demanding and never stops and while I enjoyed that challenge I feel I now need a few more hours for family commitments. The role of advertising consultant means I can still work for a company I love and still help produce a great paper every week. I know most of the local businesses anyway so hopefully you will all welcome me as your sales rep. I look forward to meeting you all again, and doing what I can to make your business grow."
I am delighted to be able to offer Jess that next step and we know she'll prove the asset she so obviously was on the editorial side of the business. Of course, that did raise some further issues for the Press.
With Jess moving to the advertising sales role, her previous role of Editor was now vacant (an arguably tougher role to fill!). It was at this point that a long time friend of the Stratford Press, indeed previously a 10-year veteran of the Editor's chair, threw his cards on the table.
Ray Cleaver, an extremely talented journalist and writer for some of New Zealand's best-known magazines made it known that he'd be keen on a return to the Press.
Ray had steered the paper through the 1990s, till 2000 when he left to start up Taranaki's own regional TV station Taranaki 7. Ray ran the groundbreaking TV station successfully for a number of years, subsequently leaving in 2005 to continue a freelance journalism career. With this background Ray was the clear choice and the team at the Press are delighted to be able to offer Ray the chance of steering the editorial direction of the paper once again.
Now, with Ray returning to the paper, but on a part-time basis, we needed someone else to step up to the challenge and accept a greater level of responsibility for the editorial content alongside taking a chance to learn more of the Editor's role.
Leon Gray-Lockhart, our talented and dedicated reporter has taken that challenge. Many of you will know Leon's writing as we do, and are aware of his particular style. Leon and the team have received many compliments about the articles that Leon has written and we believe Leon's promotion to that of a Senior Reporter is more than justified. Leon said in his typical bashful manner "Oh, it's nothing really, I'm just glad to be doing the job I do".
Past Editor Jessica Ranginui said she was excitied for Leon.
"Over such a short period of time Leon has proven himself as a capable and talented journalist. He enjoys learning about the vast variety of news we cover and adds his own personal twist to each story making it more than just news. I believe Leon is ready for this new challenge and encourage locals to share all their news.
I am delighted that we at the Press have a team with expertise in all areas of the paper, and are all very much capable of even greater success than we have already achieved. I'd like to thank Jessica, Leon and Ray for their commitment to their new roles and wish them the very best of luck.