SUVA: Fiji Times publisher Dallas Swinstead said the standard of The Fiji Times editorial staff had been shown by his ability to find two first-class people to take the newspaper in its new direction.
Swinstead was commenting on the appointment of Fred Wesley as acting editor-in-chief of The Fiji Times and Ilaitia Turagabeci Prasad as associate editor.
Wesley replaced Netani Rika who handed in his resignation on Monday.
"Fred Wesley is a standout person because of his sense of editorial decency and unusually astute insight into the challenges of the modern newspaper in a world of rapidly changing media," Swinstead said.
"Ilaitia was among a number of candidates who have proven over the years they are sound and intelligent professionals in the newsroom," he said.
"I think this duo will be recognised down the track as the right people to take Fiji's own newspaper on the right track."
Wesley started his journalism career as a sports reporter with the Daily Post in 1992. He is a former editor and acting publisher of the Daily Post.
He is also a former features editor, deputy editor and acting editor of the Fiji Sun. He joined The Fiji Times in 2004 as deputy chief subeditor before being promoted to features editor and later as Sunday Times editor.
Prasad joined The Fiji Times in 1989. He spent his early years as a sports reporter based in the company's west bureau before he was transferred to Suva in 1995 as chief sports reporter.
He was deputy chief sub-editor in 1998 and chief sub-editor in 1999. He spent three years with the Fiji Sun as chief sub-editor before returning to The Fiji Times as chief sub-editor in 2008. - Fiji Times/Pacific Media Watch
Pacific Media Watch
