Jon Bernstein

Jon Bernstein, who is leaving his post as deputy editor to become digital director for New Statesman publisher Progressive Media International

Credit: New Statesman

The New Statesman website has reported "record" traffic in the first quarter of this year, with the average number of unique users said to have risen by 231 per cent since its relaunch in the fourth quarter of 2009.

According to New Statesman the latest web traffic figures show an average monthly figure of 810,000 unique visitors in the first quarter of 2012.

This compares to an average of 612,000 in the fourth quarter of 2011.

The magazine reported its latest traffic statistics today alongside an announcement that deputy editor Jon Bernstein would be moving to the role of digital director of publisher Progressive Media International.

Bernstein will be succeeded by Helen Lewis, currently assistant editor, later this month.

He became deputy editor in November 2009, the same year as the New Statesman website's relaunch.

In his new role with the publisher Bernstein will be "overseeing digital strategy for PMI's stable of publications, which includes the New Statesman, Blueprint and Spear’s", the announcement stated.

Jason Cowley, editor of the New Statesman, added in the release: "These changes follow a period of excellent progress for newstatesman.com.

"Jon, who will continue to be a valued colleague, leaves behind a redesigned and reinvigorated web operation, and I’m sure Helen, for whom I have the highest regard, will build on his success."

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