Andrew Parker has now taken up his new role as Financial Times’ Aerospace Correspondent. He was previously the FT’s Telecoms Editor.

Regardless of whether the News of the World is your sort of newspaper, until recent days it has been a highly valuable asset. Add together the paper’s 168-year history, its track record of breaking major stories (particularly through investigative journalism) and its huge success in attracting major advertisers, and you have a something that was surely worth preserving. (Perhaps the most striking fact about the News of the World is that it had a greater number of ABC1 readers than that other Murdoch title, The Sunday Times.) News International’s decision to axe the paper rather than take the steps necessary to redeem it has caught the world on the hop; this was surely part of the Murdoch family’s motivation – the masters of newsprint have indeed, if temporarily, reset the news agenda. However, as a case study in crisis management, the decision seems a disaster. (more…)

Independent Print Limited has announced the appointment of Chris Blackhurst as editor of The Independent. Chris joins The Independent from his award-winning role as city editor and columnist on the London Evening Standard. He was previously deputy editor of The Independent, Independent on Sunday and Daily Express. Before that he was Westminster correspondent at The Independent.

Simon Kelner today steps down as editor of The Independent and i. He remains as editor-in-chief but will have no day-to-day involvement with the papers.

Business and city editor David Wighton has been appointed associate editor for business and politics at The Times. David will become the paper’s chief business commentator, writing a column on the Opinion pages that covers both the business world and the world of politics. He will also write a weekly column on the Business pages and provide analysis on economic policy and business affairs across the news pages. Deputy business editor Ian King will succeed David as business and city editor. Both will start their new roles on 31 January.

Andrew Hill has now started his new role as management editor at the Financial Times. Andrew, who was previously city editor, will write a weekly column (first column appearing on 18 January) on developments in business, strategy and management, contribute features and blog regularly. He remains an associate editor of the FT. Andrew replaces Stefan Stern, who left in August.