By Carole Dennett
Former national newspaper journalist, Mal Butler, has joined the IW Observer’s reporting team.
Mal, who lives in Bouldnor, started his career on the Hertfordshire Mercury newspaper, based in Hertford, where he became sports editor.
In 1982, aged 22, he was invited to do casual sports subediting shifts on The Sun in Bouverie Street and later in Wapping. He joined Today as a sports subeditor in 1986 rising to the position of Sports News Editor and in 1995 joined the News of the World as Sports News Editor.
Mal ‘retired’ in 2008 and moved to Island with his partner Sylvia. He is well known in the West Wight, having covered the area for the Isle of Wight County Press for the last nine years. He said: “This is a great opportunity and a new challenge. I’ve loved working for the County Press, but this gives me more of a chance to spread my wings.”
Carole Dennett, Editor of the IW Observer said: “We are loving working with Mal who brings great skills, contacts and experience. As the Island’s only locally owned and produced newspaper, we make decisions as a team. Mal’s wise counsel will be a great help in making sure we continue to produce a newspaper our readers and advertisers look forward to picking up every week.”
