Star editor ‘pushed upstairs’

By admin-s Last updated May 6, 2014

The reshuffle of editors takes place with Vincent Lee’s departure and the elevation of chief editor Wong Chun Wai to the top corporate job of chief executive, also in November.

uppercaise

Word was going around last night that The Star’s editor, June Wong, is being moved “upstairs” into a more corporate role, taking charge of content from the company’s many media properties, and bringing about “convergence” between the press, broadcasting and online sides.

Her replacement as group chief editor is expected to be her current deputy, Leanne Goh, who was once education editor.

It is believed the changes were approved by the board on Monday afternoon.

Among the reasons speculated by journalists for June’s removal, or promotion, were:

New MCA president Liow Tiong Lai wants someone more politically reliable or more aligned towards his ways and thinking
June is viewed as being someone from departing Star deputy chairman Vincent Lee’s camp
The party and the board want someone with greater political nous and street smarts, who can keep a balance between journalism and swaying with the political winds
There has been growing pressure both from within the MCA itself, as well as from Umno, for greater coverage, with several instances being cited where party political stories did not receive the coverage that politicians believed to be their due
June’s new appointment will give greater impetus towards bringing together all content in a more coherent form, an aim that the company had set out earlier, but which had not seen much progress.
There had been rumblings in the newsroom when she was appointed to the editorship in November.

The reshuffle of editors takes place with Vincent Lee’s departure and the elevation of chief editor Wong Chun Wai to the top corporate job of chief executive, also in November. (He had been acting CEO since August 1 last year.)