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Whitby Gazette Stokoe Sacked And Offices To Close
Bridge Street – Whitby Gazette Offices Set To Close After Editor Is Sacked
This article titled “Editor who raised sales gets the chop” was written by Roy Greenslade, for guardian.co.uk on Wednesday 6th March 2013 10.11 UTC
Jon Stokoe, editor of the Whitby Gazette, must have felt rather pleased about the latest set of ABC figures for regional newspapers. His title was one of just 13 paid-for weeklies in the UK to record a sales rise.
He guided his paper to a 2.1% year-on-year increase in circulation, up from 9,341 copies to a weekly average of 9,540. Given the relentless downward sales trend for newsprint papers, that has to be seen as a creditable performance.
So imagine Stokoe’s shock the day after the figures were released to be told his job has been given to someone else.
The paper’s publishers, Johnston Press, have decided as part of the company’s rationalisation process to combine the editorships of the Whitby Gazette and the Scarborough News.
And it is the editor of the News, Ed Asquith, who has been chosen to edit the Gazette. (He’ll be busy – he also edits the Malton & Pickering Mercury and Filey Mercury).
Evidently, Stokoe is “in discussions” with Johnston Press about his future. But colleagues believe it’s just a matter of going through the formalities. The editor will go, as will the Gazette’s offices.
Stokoe, 38, has edited the Gazette for two years following an 18-month stint as acting editor. He has lived in Whitby since he was a boy and first joined the paper as a trainee reporter in 1995.
Incidentally, the Scarborough News – which switched from daily to weekly publication last May – has recorded six successive months of declining sales. In July last year it sold an average of 15,936 copies. By December that was down to 13,085 – a six-month fall of 17.9%.
Source: HoldTheFrontPage
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010
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31 Responses to Whitby Gazette Stokoe Sacked And Offices To Close
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Say No To Joe
Suggested Reading
Rodric Breeze
March 6, 2013 at 5:19 pm
Even more reason for Real Whitby Magazine to publish the plain, unvarnished, UNBIASED, Truth.
Go to it!!
Nigel Ward
March 6, 2013 at 9:05 pm
I will believe it when I see it in the Whitby Gazette
http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/local
J.G.Harston
March 6, 2013 at 9:41 pm
This is devastating, the Gazette have been a fixture of Whitby and the corner of Grape Lane for 150+ years!
Bertie Bassett
March 8, 2013 at 10:01 am
there is a rumour going around that stokoe was put on gardening leave because he had been accepting stuff from the potash people for making sure that articles published were always in their favour
admin
March 8, 2013 at 12:38 pm
I certainly havent heard any such story myself. I wouldnt believe all you hear in this town.
Andrea Smith
March 8, 2013 at 12:45 pm
An acquaintance close to the gazette tells me that the staff have been unhappy with Johnsons press for some time. Stories of staff harassment, staff suspended then reinstated, disciplinary procedures been used. me thinks there is more to be told on this one.
Tom Brown
March 10, 2013 at 8:47 pm
I believe that John Stokoe would have loved to tell the truth but the Gazette owners or the owners of Johnson Press want to feed us bollocks so dump the paper as a misinformation organ.
SP
March 11, 2013 at 7:17 pm
These people who claim to have inside information don’t even know that The Gazette is owned by Johnstons Press, NOT Johnsons. I suspect that they are the ones trying to start rumors!
John Field
March 31, 2013 at 4:14 pm
Since we’ve entered pedantry terrain, it’s “rumours” not “rumors”
Tom Brown
March 12, 2013 at 2:11 pm
Arse jonsons will that do?
Michael
March 13, 2013 at 6:48 pm
Where’s the “loyalty” ????
You do not get rid of those performing well, you get rid of those under-performing !
And to add insult to injury – for Jon to be replaced by the Editor of the Scarborough Evening News, this is appalling, we need our local paper fighting the lack of support from Scarborough Borough Council, this isn’t going to happen with somebody who “has roots” in that town !
Mr Stokoe must not leave the Whitby Gazette, if he does I will never buy the paper again.
Everyone who wishes to retain Mr Stokoe must make a similar pledge !!!
Andrea Smith
March 13, 2013 at 8:28 pm
Why not give some thought to this. Why on earth would they sack someone who had increased sales of the paper ? Unless of course he had done something he shouldn’t have of course. Come on you lot, are you really so damn naive.
Michael
March 13, 2013 at 10:58 pm
Very recently, Lord McAlpine was wrongly linked to completely false allegations of child abuse.
Lord McAlpine then took some very robust actions against many of those who had made these scurrilous accusations.
I would urge those making comments surrounding Mr Stokoe to be guarded in what they say, unless of course, they can prove what they post.
Bertie Bassett, I believe that you have already crossed that line !
Andrea Smith, you are very close !
SP
March 14, 2013 at 12:37 am
Well said Michael.
Andrea Smith
March 14, 2013 at 6:24 pm
Interview the remaining staff for their opinions, if they haven’t been gagged it could prove interesting.
Michael
March 14, 2013 at 7:10 pm
I do so hope that you are wrong Angela, but I guess that in the fullness of time, the truth will out !
Jack Taylor
March 14, 2013 at 9:04 pm
I’m afraid Andrea is quite right. There are gagging orders and I’m afraid Whitby Gazette has brought much adverse attention upon itself from upon high due to the treatment of staff from within.
The truth will come out in time and people’s opinions will alter dramatically.
There’s no doubt that Mr Stokoe has put his heart and soul into the Whitby Gazette but unfortunately management practices within have fallen well short of employment law and especially that of equality leading to a whole host of libel.
In my opinion this is due to a lack of training and investment in people managing the Whitby Gazette from the parent company who should hang their heads in shame.
How could anyone ruin such a newspaper as the Whitby Gazette and even dream of selling such an iconic building for short term gain, without any thought or regard of the personnel who also put their heart and soul into publishing a newspaper, treasured literally by thousands of people.
Lets hope that as many jobs as possible are saved and the relocation of staff provides a suitable working environment for all concerned.
Though it must be said that the coverage and priority of stories in the recent past has been unusual and seemingly very biased from a reader’s point of view.
This past year national newspapers inc Private Eye seem to have had their finger more on the pulse than the Whitby Gazette who for some reason seem to ignore some very important issues in and around Whitby.
That said, being sacked so publicly is most unpleasant for any reason.
Mr Stokoe is a very pleasant good natured man who would stop in the street and give anyone the time of day. One can only wish him all the best and hope he finds suitable employment sooner rather than later.
admin
March 14, 2013 at 10:58 pm
Can you give us any more specific information Jack ?
Tom Brown
March 15, 2013 at 9:58 am
I have been informed by accountant staff of other Borough Councils that a sum is paid to the Mirror Group, Johnson Press and others to pay them to discourage some stories and promote others.
This is public money in the way of council taxes and is organised by an organisation called ‘Common Purpose’ That’s how newspapers keep their price down,
The publishers take the money and instruct their editors.
Think about the price of confectionery etc. inflated in price because its in a motorway outlet but newspapers still keep their price.This is to keep us misinformed.
Doris Jones
March 16, 2013 at 8:09 am
Why don’t you all look at the bigger picture. It’s simply a cost cutting exercise by Johnston Press. Lose the editor and sell the offices saves money. Pretty soon all the gazette staff will be based in Scarborough and before you know it, it will be ‘The Scarborough & Whitby News’ amalgamated together to form one paper. This is what the people of Whitby do not want. Jon Stokoe seems to have done everything he could for the paper and the people of Whitby. He has made the paper what it is today. As for taking bribes off the potash, do you not think that is a bit too far fetched, not to mention slanderous! From what I can see, this is just another nail in Whitbys coffin by Scarborough. Jon Stokoe has done his best for the paper, and appears to be a genuine, honest, hardworking man who is being treated appallingly by Johnston Press. All Whitby wants is a Whitby paper edited by a Whiby man in Whitby, so you should all be showing your support for Jon and spare a thought for his family who are obviously affected by all of this!
John Field
March 31, 2013 at 4:18 pm
There is a pattern in Johnston Press’ behaviour. Their flagship is the Scotsman, which has lost some 30,000 readers in the last few years, and which is also making redundancies. The company is desperately trying to cut costs, for some pretty obvious reasons, but the problem of course is that quality is bound to suffer, and readership will fall further. For better or worse, the future is digital.
Dolly Mixture
March 21, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Well, HOORAY for Michael! The voice of reason! I am in total agreement with your comments regarding loyalty and slander. So following in the footsteps of the cowardly alias of Bertie Bassett, I will have my say, without anyone knowing who I am.
Yes, there have been gagging orders at the Gazette – they are not allowed to comment about their disgust and sadness of the treatment of their editor. I went in recently to say hello to friends who work there and they said that the place was like a morgue without Jon – they all looked shell-shocked.
I am not even going to honour the potash bribe comment with a response, as I have never heard such utter garb in my life. Anyone who knows Jon Stokoe will know that.
The Gazette has faced a number of challenges over the years and Jon has faced and overcome them together with his loyal team (and yes, I know ALL the details and ALL the FACTS). Jon truly deserves a medal for what he has achieved. It is no wonder that the Gazette has recorded such record figures and for that, they should all be congratulated. These are NOT the results of a dysfunctional team. Wake up and smell the coffee.
Andrea – if I were you, I would check your sources – turns out you’re the naive one…
Doris Jones
March 21, 2013 at 8:21 pm
I agree with everything Dolly Mixture has said.
None of the staff are allowed to comment on what is happening at present, and out of respect for Jon they are keeping a dignified silence on things. Yes they are horrified and upset and in shock with the treatment of their Boss. If they were allowed to comment then they would and you would all hear exactly what they think.
I am another who has had to comment under an alias, someone who knows the truth and all the facts.
People who do not have all the facts should NOT speculate about things they obviously know nothing about – if in doubt, make it up (Andrea Smith!!!)
Andrea Smith
March 21, 2013 at 10:30 pm
ah, well you all point the finger at me, but no-one has said anything about what Jack Taylor says above. He has said far more than me about what has gone on, yet youve all ignored his comments. Is that because he is speaking the truth ?
Dolly Mixture
March 22, 2013 at 9:46 am
Given my opinion of your post, which I thought I had made quite clear, I think it highly unlikely that I would then agree with a post that begins, ”Andrea is quite right’. This is clearly an oversight on my part. My opinion, based on facts, remains the same.
What an odd response – to basically say, ‘well, he said it too’. It almost reminds me of something…oh yes, that’s right….the playground.
Let’s hope everyone can sift through the nonsense on this page to discover the truth for themselves about what really goes on in ‘real’ Whitby.
Tom Brown
March 22, 2013 at 10:58 am
I always give up when a cat fight starts, it ruins the reasons of argument
admin
March 22, 2013 at 12:07 pm
I would second that Tom.
Michael
March 22, 2013 at 12:26 pm
The lack of any statement from the Gazette is a little disconcerting.
I have just sent this to the paper …………
Dear Whitby Gazette,
Why is there absolutely no comment from the Gazette, either in the Gazette online or in today’s issue, as regards the on-going furore over Jon Stokoe & the Editorship of the paper ?
Even given so called “gagging orders”, (if they exist at all), surely it would only be fair to your many loyal readers to make some comment, however small & however general.
There is an old saying, “bad news does not get better with time”, and so to avoid this very newsworthy item is simply to bury ones head in the sand.
Tell us something, even if it is only to tell us why you can’t tell us anything – if you get my drift !
Michael
Dolly Mixture
March 22, 2013 at 1:04 pm
So – just to get this straight – when women express their differing opinions on a discussion forum, it is a cat fight? Thanks for that, Tom.
Very interesting viewpoint from admin there too – that tells me a lot about this website, most of which I already knew.
On a more positive note, what a brilliant proactive response from Michael – definitely need more people like that around. If you feel strongly about an issue, you should absolutely act on it (unless, of course, you’re a women…).
Doris Jones
March 22, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Let me guess Dolly Mixture, it tells you that this website is built upon fabrication……. ( because it is!)
If you don’t know the true facts, make it up – isn’t that right Andrea Smith, Jack Taylor, oh and of course Admin…..
Just goes to show what naive people there are around town. How about we make up rumours without a thought for what they are actually doing. If you knew anything about the Whitby Gazette and its staff you would know they are an excellent bunch of guys who all work exceptionally well together given the job they do on such a small team.
I’m sure you will all have someone else to ‘Slander’ when the next bit of gossip is circulating around town……
Crack on and enjoy it whether you know the facts or not – Pathetic!
Doris Jones
March 22, 2013 at 5:51 pm
Oh and Dolly Mixture, it seems you and I are the only honest ones commenting on this post….. must be because we know fact from fiction!