IT’S BEEN OVER a month since Claire Grady exited INM (Independent News & Media), leaving her role as Editor of the Irish Independent.
And the national newspaper is now looking to fill that vacancy.
In its recruitment announcement today, the Irish Independent said it was looking for somebody “with the vision to lead” the publication through its next period of digital expansion.
The successful candidate must have an “understanding of digital media”, according to the ad. The closing date for applications is 28 November.
“The newspaper has the undisputed reputation for setting the news agenda every day,” said group Editor-in-Chief Stephen Rae.
“We are looking for an editor with a superb eye for detail, thorough grounding in current affairs and the experience to lead the print title’s editorial team in producing ground-breaking quality content for the Irish public.”
Grady was in the role for just one year when she announced her departure in August. She was the first woman to be appointed to the top job at the Indo.
At the time, Rae had described her as one of the “outstanding journalists of her generation”.
Ian Mallon, group of head news, has been acting editor for the past 10 weeks.
A day after Grady’s exit, members of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists) at INM expressed their disappointment and asked for an “open and transparent” process to be used in selecting her successor.
In a separate motion that day, unlinked to the one concerning Grady, members of the NUJ chapel noted “the deterioration in morale within INM titles and the oppressive management culture” which they claim “is undermining the health and welfare of workers throughout the company”.
The motion calls on senior management at the company to be immediately reminded of their obligations to ”ensure that all employees are allowed to work without intimidation or fear of bullying”.
INM said that difficult decisions have to be made “in very challenging times” and “not everyone is going to like some of those decisions”.
With reporting from Hugh O’Connell
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