Connor takes the reins as Globe’s new MD
THE new Managing Director at Gosport Globe Community Publications C.I.C. is graphic designer and assistant editor Connor Steel.
The nearly 29-year-old, Brockhurst, was appointed to the post after a unanimous decision by the board’s directors at its December meeting.
He takes over from Globe founder Robin Young, aged 69, who, together with former co-director Tog Porter founded the original company, My Free News Ltd, in June 2014. The first edition of the digital newspaper, initially a tabloid, published weekly in PDF form, appeared on January 23, 2015.
The company became a not-for-profit CIC serving Fareham as well as Gosport after Tog retired on health grounds. It underwent several board changes until Connor became a director three years ago, alongside, Robin, his wife Fran Young and Scots-born poet and artist Bill Slavin.
After the impact of Covid-19 in 2020 meant a total collapse in the paper’s limited revenue, the Globe was forced to abandon its Bury House offices and suspendeded publication for six months before reappearing in its present form as a news website updated on a near-daily basis.
According to data monitored by Google Analytics, the Globe has a growing readership in excess of 2,000 across the area, with 10 times that figure using its social media pages.
Inspiration
Robin – who remains the company’s Editorial Director and will continue as Globe editor until a successor can be appointed, said today, Sunday, December 11: “We are delighted that Connor has agreed to take over as our new MD.”
“Not only has he brought new ideas to a keen, unpaid and tight-knit team but he is also an inspiration to anyone coping with a disability in what is often a challenging working environment.”
“Connor has lived with cerebral palsy all of his life but that didn’t prevent him gaining an MA from the University of Portsmouth, having a full social life, being a tremendous support to his close-knit family, playing football as well as writing about it and, not least, making a successful career as a civil servant.”
“If our new chief has any faults, it is an unhealthy interest in fast-food outlets such as Subway, McDonalds and KFC. Somehow, though, I don’t think that will slow him down!”
“An honour”
And Connor said on taking up his new appointment: “It is an honour to be appointed the Managing Director of the Globe and I look forward to helping to build on the newspaper’s success. It has seen a shift with the new website but that hasn’t stopped some brilliant stories being published or a lack of desire from anybody involved.”
“Robin has always welcomed me as a member of his extended family and I have had the privilege of gaining experience alongside him for nearly four years. Plenty of laughs, events and editing have been completed with his guidance and I can’t thank the rest of the Globe team enough for their support over recent years.
“With Robin’s experience and a brilliant editorial team, I hope that we can improve readership and our coverage of Gosport and Fareham stories over the short term. Getting new people is also welcomed and I encourage anybody to contact us if you want to get involved in this exciting publication.”
PICTURED: Connor celebrates MA Graphic Design back in June 2018 on steps of Guildhall Square, Portsmouth
