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ST new senior appointments team (from left) Han Fook Kwang, Warren Fernandez, Bertha Henson, Alan John, Sumiko Tan, Zuraidah Ibrahim, Helen Chia and Chua Lee Hoong. -- ST PHOTO: ALAN LIM
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A RESHUFFLE of various senior editors at The Straits Times was completed last week in a move aimed at gearing up the newsroom to meet the challenges of the new media landscape.
The Straits Times editor Han Fook Kwang said he wanted his key editors to take on new appointments and fresh challenges so they can bring new ideas into the newspaper.
'The Straits Times must constantly seek out new ways to reach out to our readers and keep them engaged. The media industry is changing fast, readers have more choices, and we have to keep up with their changing interests,' he noted.
He said the new appointments would put the paper in a stronger position to make these changes.
Deputy editor Warren Fernandez has been appointed day editor. He will work with deputy editor Alan John, who oversees the The Straits Times' night operations, to shape paper's news coverage, said Mr Han.
Mr John will also oversee the Money, senior writers and breaking news sections.
The biggest single section within The Straits Times, the news desk, which covers domestic news, is now being headed by associate editor Bertha Henson, together with news editors Dominic Nathan and Carl Skadian.
With the change, said Ms Henson, 'readers can expect more expert commentaries, stories about extraordinary people and stories that affect people like means testing'.
Mr Han said the changes at the news desk were a 'major part of this exercise', and were designed to give the desk the resources it needed 'to live up to the promise to readers that we know Singapore best and will deliver the best possible coverage'.
For instance, the tourism team is currently being expanded and will commit to bringing readers all the colour and spectacle of exciting events like the new Integrated Resorts and the Formula One race, Ms Henson promised.
Mr Felix Soh, the digital media editor, is taking charge of The Straits Times' digital initiatives, 'spearheading our efforts in the new media landscape', said Mr Han.
Other changes include former Life! editor Sumiko Tan moving to become editor of The Sunday Times. She also oversees the Life! section and the three magazines - Digital Life, Mind Your Body, and Urban - that come free with The Straits Times.
The Sunday Times, said Ms Tan, 'will go bigger on hard news and expand the Think, Invest and Sports sections. I am also looking at revamping Mind Your Body, Digital Life and Urban to make them even more relevant to our readers.'
Outgoing Sunday Times editor Helen Chia is now the Life! editor.
Meanwhile, outgoing political editor Zuraidah Ibrahim willl now head the paper's foreign desk. And former review editor Chua Lee Hoong takes over from her as head of the political desk. United States-based Mr Janadas Devan has been appointed as the review editor.
The heads of The Straits Times' Money, Art, and Picture sections are unchanged.
The various personnel changes took place on Feb 1.
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