The Gazette is under new management.
The Gazette is delighted to announce that it is under new management, after a takeover by two of its staff was completed at the end of last month.
Editor Sam Hawcroft and sales director Zoe Broom are the new co-owners after completing a buyout from previous publisher Brian Adcock, who owned the Gazette with his wife Judy.
Brian said: “After more than 45 years as director/shareholder of the Gazette I am delighted to announce the sale of the full shareholding in the company to two of its very loyal and talented staff.
“Editor Sam Hawcroft and production/sales operative Zoe Broom now own the business.
“I have enjoyed every minute of my involvement and development of the newspaper over the years and thank all who have supported me and the Gazette.
“It is sad to leave but I can assure all our readers the Gazette is in good hands.
“I wish Sam and Zoe all the very best in challenging times.”
The pair received business support and advice from Alan Gordon-Freeman at Hedon-based Sirius Enterprise Agency.
Sam said: “Alan has been really helpful in so many ways, from honing our business plan in the early stages to pointing us towards a variety of essential business and legal/HR resources. Sirius will continue to offer support and mentoring as we go on this journey, which is brilliant.”
In recent weeks, Sam and Zoe have already begun to bring in a few innovations, such as a digital edition, an online business directory and a website shop selling books by local authors.
The Gazette has also signed up to Ipso (Independent Press Standards Organisation), the leading regulator of publications in the UK.
Sam said she was passionate about local news and felt there was very much still a need for a paper that was at the heart of its community.
She added: “While we want to develop and modernise our online offering, I wholeheartedly believe in print – it’s a trusted format that people still want. Corporate entities have done their best to kill off hyperlocal journalism in the past couple of decades, but we remain proudly independent and now entirely locally run.”
Zoe said: “Having worked at the Gazette for more than 21 years and living in Holderness all my life, I am very passionate about the paper and the area, and I firmly believe that Sam and I can move it forward in a positive way. I am very excited about what the future holds for the Gazette and am looking forward to the challenges along the way.”
To find out how you can advertise your business, please follow the link: https://www.sirius-hull.co.uk/files/dal/400.pdf
