IRISH News editor Noel Doran is to step down next April after 25 years in the role.
Noel joined the paper in 1993 and was appointed editor in April 1999, making him the longest serving daily editor in the UK and Ireland.
During his distinguished tenure, The Irish News has amassed a raft of UK and regional awards in recognition of its consistent top-level content.
Noel was voted “regional editor of the century” in 2020 by readers of the Hold the Front Page website, and has been credited with winning a wider cross-community readership for the paper.
The Irish News has also regularly topped the ABC sales charts for UK regional dailies, and is now the UK’s second best-selling regional daily newspaper.
Noel became editor shortly after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, and as a result, the ups and downs of Stormont and devolution have been an overarching theme for him.
“Noel has been an integral part of our publication for the past 30 years, overseeing the production of more than 7,000 editions of the paper," IntoMedia Group chief executive Dominic Fitzpatrick said.
“His contributions to the growth and success of The Irish News have been immeasurable, and we extend our deepest gratitude for his exceptional dedication.
“In his time here, Noel has played a pivotal role in shaping the editorial direction of our newspaper.
“His unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity has earned us the trust and respect of our readers, while his insightful editorial decisions have helped shape public discourse on significant events and issues.”
Read more:
[ IntoMedia - Uniting three iconic brands to launch a best-in-class media businessOpens in new window ]
A search for Noel's successor is now under way, but he will continue as editor until a new appointment is made.
Noel said: “It has been a great honour to edit The Irish News for the last quarter of a century and help to chronicle the changes which have swept across our society since the Good Friday Agreement.
“I have been very fortunate to work with many outstanding journalists who have rightly earned the trust of our loyal readers, and I am particularly grateful for the unstinting support of our chief executive Dominic Fitzpatrick and his late father, our chairman Jim Fitzpatrick, throughout my time with the paper.”
Noel has steered the organisation through a significant transformation over the past 24 months, and his successor will continue to guide its progress.
Founded in 1891 and part of the IntoMedia Group, The Irish News - which has a team of 130 people - sells more than 25,000 newspapers a day and has 151,000 average daily readers, making it the second best-selling regional newspaper in the UK.
