Riddell joins Shetland News

SHETLAND News is strengthening its editorial team with the arrival of former Shetland Times reporter Neil Riddell.

The 30 year old has left Shetland’s weekly newspaper after six years to seek new challenges in the digital world of local journalism.

Riddell will join Hans Marter and Pete Bevington who have provided a daily news service for the islands since they relaunched the Shetland News website in March 2003.

This year it was judged the best news website in the Highlands and Islands and was shortlisted for the UK award alongside major regional newspaper websites in England.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Neil aboard and look forward to making the most of his valuable experience reporting on current affairs in Shetland,” Bevington said.

Marter added: “We have lots of ideas and plans for Shetland News and having Neil joining our team is an important step for us to realise some of these ambitions.”

Riddell said that after six rewarding years at The Shetland Times he was looking forward to working in a new environment.

“I am excited by the prospect of joining the talented Shetland News team to work on a variety of ideas to ensure this excellent site continues to find innovative ways of making high-quality community journalism pay in the digital era,” he said.

Riddell is taking some time out before he starts working for Shetland News in early December.