A key hyperlocal role for ex-editor

Mike Sassi

Mike Sassi (pictured), who stepped down as editor of the Nottingham Post in 2019, is taking over as the new editorial director of Nub News, which runs more than 60 hyperlocal websites covering 68 towns across Britain.

As well as managing the 32 full-time journalists who currently staff the network, Mike will also be tasked with launching a number of new sites, with South-West London, Surrey, Sussex, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Essex and the South-West of England being targeted in the company’s latest expansion drive.

The new role marks a return to daily news journalism for Mike who also edited the Lincolnshire Echo and Stoke daily The Sentinel in the course of a 31-year regional press career which began at the Derby Telegraph in 1988. After leaving the Nottingham Post, Mike was appointed a director of Notts TV and an Honorary Visiting Professor at Nottingham Trent University – positions he will retain but in an unpaid capacity.

In his new job he will report directly to Nub News owner and chief executive Karl Hancock, who started the company from scratch in September 2018.

“Nub News builds strong and trusting relationships in its towns – and attracts readers who are truly local and loyal. I’m looking forward to working with Karl and our editors to expand the network and enhance our journalism. I’m also looking forward to generating some cracking local news stories,” said Mike.

Karl said: “Nub News readers take great pride in their communities. They want positive coverage – not clickbait and cynicism. Our core mission is to reflect their pride and the values that drive their towns. Mike will lead that passion and I am delighted he is joining us.”

More than seven million people have visited Nub News sites during the past year.