Managing editor to go in NMG restructuring

The Nation Media Group (NMG) has come up with a new editorial structure as part of its restructuring aimed at cutting down on staff in an effort to reduce expenses.  The company has created a new editorial management structure which reduces the number of managing editors on the Nation newspapers.

It is understood that under the new scheme, one managing editor position on the Nation newspapers section will be abolished. The Nation newspapers are run by three managing editors – one each for the Daily Nation (Monday to Friday), Saturday Nation and Sunday Nation.

Daily Nation is headed by Mutuma Mathiu, Saturday Nation by Tim Wanyonyi while Eric Obino runs the Sunday Nation and oversees the who weekend. Under the new structure, the Saturday and Sunday will be combined to be headed by one managing editor. It is not yet clear who between Obino and Wanyonyi will be given the bigger role. In the end, the weekend editions will have one team of writers and editors.

The new structure was to be unveiled today, but a case filed by the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) opposing the restructuring forced the Nation Media Group management to delay it after its lawyer asked for more time to make submissions. KUJ has sued on behalf of eight unionisable journalists how have been picked for sacking.

SEE ALSO >> KUJ forces Nation to suspend laying off staff

It is being speculated that one managing editor could be rendered redundant for the restructuring to make sense, but some insiders say he could be redeployed to a low-profile position. It is worth noting that the weekend editions are the strongest in Nation’s newspapers stable, led by the Sunday Nation. Given their higher circulation, they are more influential when it comes to political reporting and the managing editors are often in the spotlight on how they cover politics.

The Daily Nation is firmly in the hands of Mutuma, who has been running it for more than a decade now, while Obino remains a strong feature on Sunday. But under CEO Joe Muganda, insiders say, no one can be absolutely safe.

[crp]