New appointment as media consultancy grows

AWARD-WINNING daily editor Nicola Furbisher is to become a director of Furbisher Media.

Nicola (pictured) has left her role as Editor of the Yorkshire Evening Post and Managing Editor of The Yorkshire Post to join the company launched by her husband, former Sheffield Star Editor John Furbisher, 15 months ago.

She announced her decision to leave her editor role late last year on the eve of the Yorkshire Evening Post being named Daily Newspaper of the Year at the O2 Media Awards (Yorkshire & The Humber).

During her three years at Yorkshire Post Newspapers she spearheaded the launch of campaigns which received national acclaim: Loneliness: The Hidden Epidemic (The Yorkshire Post) and #SpeakYourMind (Yorkshire Evening Post), a campaign to end the perceived stigma around mental ill health.

In a previous role as chief reporter of The Yorkshire Post Nicola was one of the team that exposed corruption within Doncaster Council – the so-called Donnygate affair – an investigation labelled ‘historic stuff that won’t be forgotten’ when the coverage was awarded Team of the Year at the Regional Press Awards.

Nicola was also previously group editor of the Derbyshire Times and associated titles.

Furbisher Media offers bespoke PR to politicians and others, as well as public affairs consultancy, media training, coaching, mentoring and crisis communications. John launched the company following five years in Brussels as head of communications for Britain’s Conservative MEPs.

Nicola said: “The company has grown even faster than we anticipated and to fulfil client demand and realise the firm’s potential, the time was right to step up.

“I’m leaving behind a great team at Yorkshire PostNewspapers but look forward to new projects and building new relationships. It’s an exciting time in politics and media relations so I expect no less pace or pressure.

"In a fully digital, multimedia world, clients' requirements are greater than ever and I know the huge experience gleaned from the front line of a digital-first newsroom, will help us serve them well."