BLACKBALL MEDIA APPOINTS HEAD OF EDITORIAL

Blackball Media has appointed experienced news journalist Colin Channon as Head of Editorial.

The new position will see Channon take up the editorship of multi-award-winning Car Dealer Magazine, oversee editorial output for AOL Cars and Motors.co.uk, and spearhead Blackball Media's new projects which include SuperUnleaded.com and a new magazine, set to be launched in 2015.

Channon is currently editor-in-chief of Newsquest Essex and responsible for two daily papers and 15 weekly papers. He'll be joining Blackball Media on November 10.

He said: "I've worked with some of the best journalists in the business during my career – I must have done because almost all the publications I've been at have won awards, and there's no way I'm the reason why!

"I'm really excited to be joining the team at Blackball Media at a very interesting time in its history. The output the company produces is fresh, exciting and engaging and I'll be looking to ensure that brilliant work not only continues, but gets even better."

Channon will be returning to his home town of Gosport to take up the new post and brings a wealth of experience to the role. His career started at The News, Portsmouth, in a news role, before he moved to The Evening Herald, Plymouth, as deputy sports editor, followed by a return to Portsmouth as sports editor.

His first editorship was in West Sussex at the Chichester Observer, before he made the move to Essex to edit two daily papers, the Echo in the south of the county, and the Daily Gazette in Colchester, in January this year.

Channon added: "The opportunity to return to Gosport, where my family is based, and to work with the brilliant team at Blackball Media, was very difficult to ignore. I've made some great friends in Essex and although my time there was short, I hope I managed to achieve a lot.

"I'm extremely excited about getting my teeth stuck into the automotive industry. I love cars and although the business is new to me, I'll be bringing my news nose and experience to the fore to dig out the exclusives that have helped make Car Dealer a multi-award winning title."

Managing director of Blackball Media, James Baggott, added: "I've known Colin for many years and I have every confidence his super news sense, eye for design and passion for serving his readers will help take our editorial output to new heights.

"We didn't want to appoint someone from the automotive industry who would come with a legacy. Colin is unknown to the motoring industry but what he's achieved in the news world is seriously impressive.

"He's passionate and driven, just like the rest of Blackball Media, and will fit right in. We can't wait for him to get started."

Blackball Media is an automotive services specialist. It publishes Car Dealer Magazine, produces daily content for several leading automotive news websites, provides PR services to a host of car manufacturers and suppliers, and produces automotive videos for a variety of blue-chip clients.

Founded in 2008 by James Baggott, the company now employs 21 staff at its offices in Gosport, Hampshire.

Ahead of Channon's arrival you can tweet him @colinchannon or email colin@blackballmedia.co.uk. Contact Blackball Media on (023) 9252 2434 or visit www.blackballmedia.co.uk.