The editor of Southern Cross, Jeremy Halcrow, has resigned after five years in the hotseat.

During his editorship Southern Cross won numerous awards while circulation and advertising revenue increased markedly.

However, Mr Halcrow said a greater achievement has been restructuring the content of the newspaper and thinking how it could serve the goals of the diocesan Mission.

“We have been trying to reinvent the very essence of journalism so it better reflects gospel priorities. Neither the conflict paradigm used by the broadsheet newspapers nor the sensational tone of the tabloids is really appropriate. A new reporting genre needs to be developed based on the human interest model. So far, we have dubbed this the ‘conversion model’ of journalism but it is really a task we have only begun. I look forward to watching how it develops under my successor.”

Southern Cross journalist Geoff Robson has been appointed editor until early 2004. He then hopes to commence theological studies at Moore College.

Mr Halcrow has taken up a position managing Anglicare’s public relations team. He hopes to help the Christian agency be more proactive in setting the public policy agenda in the media.

In the long term, he would like to see diocesan organistions working together to develop alternative and distinctively Christian public policy initiatives which are compelling to governments of all political hues.

“The Anglican Media Council is very grateful for Jeremy Halcrow’s contribution to Southern Cross,” said Margaret Rodgers, CEO of Anglican Media. “The paper has forged ahead in many ways under his creative leadership. He will be greatly missed.

“With Geoff Robson planning to move on at the beginning of 2004, I expect to seek both a new editor and journalist for our paper. Any Christian journalist who is interested in being considered for these positions is welcome to contact me even now,” she said.