Observer.co.uk appoints new editor

Rafael Behr, former business correspondent for the BBC and UK financial broadsheet the Financial Times, has been appointed the new editor of Observer.co.uk.

Speaking to dotJournalism during his second week in the role, Mr Behr said that he was looking forward to the challenge of finding new ways to enrich news from the print version and generate new ideas for the site.

"It’s not just about piling in the content on a Saturday night," said Mr Behr.

"It’s a more creative challenge - to generate even more content that is interesting and refreshing."

Observer.co.uk has a dedicated audience throughout the week, as well as an international readership. Mr Behr also acknowledged the significant demand in the US for Observer and Guardian news.

"The US press has its own focus, so we know that liberal Americans look to UK publishers."

The site will have less focus on breaking news, but will publish new content and features throughout the week. Mr Behr commented on the importance of free content in maintaining a relationship with the readership.

"From an editorial point of view, the interactivity of the web enables a closer relationship with readers," he said.

"My personal point of view is that the Pandora’s box has been opened - good content can be free. Speciality services, such as the Wall Street Journal and the FT, can get away with it.

"But I think users feel betrayed if they can no longer access the content they want."

Mr Behr, who earlier this year worked for BBC Online, also acknowledged the significant influence of the BBC in developing online news.

"The BBC has set the benchmark for the industry and driven the development of other news sites," he said.

"It’s a fantastic public service."

See also:
http://www.observer.co.uk

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