'Tribune' manager appointed new editor

The Sunday Tribune has appointed its managing director as editor-in-chief in a reorganisation following the departure of former editor Mr Matt Cooper.

Mr Jim Farrelly retains his position as MD in the changes, which also see the former deputy editor of the Tribune, Mr Paddy Murray, appointed editor.

Newsroom staff were informed of the moves on Saturday, but there is to be a further meeting this week to explain how the new arrangements will work.

It is understood that editorial staff will report mainly to Mr Murray. However, Mr Farrelly, an experienced journalist before becoming managing director, has been taking a more hands-on roll in the production of the newspaper in recent weeks. He was also on the panel which interviewed candidates for the editorship.

Mr Farrelly, who was educated at King's Inns and UCD, has been news editor at the Sunday Tribune, and was features editor and an investigative reporter at the Irish Independent. Before becoming managing director at the Tribune, he was MD at the Kerryman, the Drogheda Independent and Independent Provincial Newspapers. He is the author of Who's Who in Irish Politics.

Mr Murray has been deputy editor for the past four years, and before that was deputy editor at the Star, and assistant editor at the Evening Herald. He has been a columnist for a number of newspapers, including the Tribune. He was educated at Blackrock College, UCD, and the College of Commerce, Rathmines.

Mr Cooper resigned as editor last year to succeed Mr Eamon Dunphy as presenter of Today FM's The Last Word programme.