View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
May 9, 2002updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Sacked Hart seeks legal advice

By Press Gazette

Hart: at Standard for nine years

The deputy City editor of the Evening Standard, Joanne Hart, is said by colleagues to be taking legal advice about compensation after being sacked.

Hart has been with the paper nine years, six of them in her present position. She has been told to look for another job during her three months’ contractual notice period.

Her lawyers are now trying to clarify her position, since she has received no criticism of her work and no verbal or written warnings. The newspaper will not comment on the situation.

Her colleagues are fearful that Hart’s dismissal is only the beginning of changes in their department. Editor Veronica Wadley has called for a "refreshed" City team.

Hart worked for four years on Channel 4’s Business Daily and before that had her first two-and-a-half-year stint with the Standard.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Wadley has cancelled the Queen’s Jubilee Bank Holiday day off for journalists despite the fact that the paper will not be published that day.

In a memo from editorial manager Jeannette Arnold, staff learned that Tuesday, 4 June will be a normal working day for them and that Wadley expects all of them to be in.

She believes that the previous weekend will be an important one for sport, with the World Cup starting on 31 May, and for Jubilee celebrations in London.

"Veronica thinks that to come in cold on Wednesday morning having been off since Friday is too long a break," said Arnold. "But everyone will get a day off in lieu for the Bank Holiday."

By Jean Morgan

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network