Chris Jones appointed Courier-Mail editor, Jenna Cairney The Mercury editor

The new editor of Queensland’s Courier-Mail appointed amid a number of key promotions unveiled by News Corp.

Chris Jones is the new Courier-Mail editor. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Chris Jones has been appointed as the new editor of Queensland’s Courier-Mail amid a number of key promotion unveiled by News Corp on Friday.

The move will be a homecoming for Jones, who started his career at the newspaper two decades ago, rising to the role of executive editor of The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail, before moving to Hobart in 2017 to edit The Mercury.

Announcing the appointment, News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller praised Jones’s work, saying he had proven his ability to lead a dynamic newsroom and drive a strong news agenda.

“Recently under his stewardship, The Mercury won the News Awards’ campaign of the year with news.com.au for ‘Let Her Speak’: their advocacy to overturn Tasmania’s archaic laws silencing sexual assault victims from speaking publicly,” Mr Miller said.

“I am delighted Chris has agreed to take on the editorship of The Courier-Mail to build on its strong momentum and success in growing digital subscriptions.

“In his new role Chris will report to me and work closely with Jason Scott, News Corp’s managing director for Queensland.”

Jenna Cairney has been named editor of The Mercury in Hobart. Picture: Christian Gilles

Jones’s promotion will see him replace outgoing editor Sam Weir, who is moving to Melbourne to edit the Herald Sun on January 13.

Mr Miller said Jones would be replaced in Hobart by Jenna Cairney, who has been editor of the Townsville Bulletin for the past two years.

“Originally from Dundee in Scotland, Jenna won the recent regional journalism News Award for her leadership of The Bulletin during a difficult year for Townsville, when the north Queensland city was hit by natural disaster and her campaigning helped restore community confidence,” he said.