Caroline Waterson to succeed Mirror editor-in-chief Alison Phillips

Mirror editor-in-chief Alison Phillips is stepping down at the end of this month after five years in the role.

Caroline Waterson, editor-in-chief for magazines and supplements at the Mirror‘s publisher, Reach, has been announced as the new interim editor.

Phillips, who began at Reach in 1998 as a Sunday People feature writer, leaves the company following hundreds of job cuts in the past year as Reach’s revenues have been severely affected by a decline in online traffic. The publisher has blamed the fall on Facebook’s change in policy towards deprioritising news.

“The Mirror is one of the finest news brands on Earth, with an extraordinary team that I will miss forever,” Phillips commented. “I will always be beyond proud to be part of a team which showed each day that great journalism can be done with kindness and be a voice for the decent, compassionate people of this country. I wish everyone there all the very best for a brilliant future.”

Waterson previously served as features editor and later deputy editor at the Sunday Mirror.

“I’m looking forward to returning to the Mirror and to working with the team to build on their success during this critical and exciting time for the brand,” she said.

Reach CEO Jim Mullen added: “Caroline’s many years of senior editorial experience at our national titles, as well as a track record in leading our magazines through a major digital shift, make her well-placed to take on this important role at this time.”