View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
March 25, 2004updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Fears of exodus at BBC Mags after Kidman Cox quits

By Press Gazette

Kidman Cox: resigned this week

The resignation of Rosamund Kidman Cox after 23 years as editor of BBC Wildlife Magazine is expected to be the first of several high-profile departures from BBC Magazines.

Her decision to quit follows the BBC’s decision to put its specialist titles under the control of Bristolbased Origin Publishing, which it acquired last month.

The takeover has led to the transfer of BBC Music and BBC History magazines from London to Bristol. BBC History staff were told on Wednesday that the Origin-owned rival Living History would be merged into their magazine.

BBC Wildlife Magazine is already based in Bristol but Kidman Cox’s decision is believed to be linked to Origin’s new cost-effective approach to take the magazine forward.

There are understood to be plans to reduce the editorial budget and the 10-strong editorial team.

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

Kidman Cox declined to comment on her reasons for going, except to say: “Obviously I am very sad to be leaving.

I’m standing down as editor as the magazine enters a new era. I wish it well and very much hope it will continue to chronicle our relationship with nature and be the international forum it set out to be 41 years ago.”

Sources predict further departures, pointing out that Kidman Cox had built up an “enormously loyal team”.

The BBC has anticipated a number of redundancies. Greg Neale, editor of BBC History Magazine, and Helen Wallace, editor of BBC Music Magazine, were also considering their positions this week.

The BBC hit back at accusations of dumbing down by supporters of BBC Wildlife Magazine, who echoed the fears of staff that the BBC was putting profits before editorial integrity.

A BBC spokesman said: “We have absolutely no intention of dumbing down any of our magazines. It is ridiculous to suggest that just because Origin produces craft titles it cannot produce a history or wildlife magazine — just as we publish Tweenies and Good Food.”

By Ruth Addicott

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