Mr. Don Grearson who resigned last month.

Ms Parker, who has worked at The Royal Gazette for the last six years as a senior reporter and sub editor, became news editor effective January 1. She is the first Bermudian news editor at the newspaper.

Ms Parker, a graduate of Florida A&M University, also worked as a junior reporter for the newspaper in her summer vacations before she was employed full time in 1989.

For the past year, she has worked as a sub editor, editing the newspaper's sections and overseas news.

As a senior reporter she was on general assignment and specialised in education coverage. In 1992, she spent eight weeks in England as a Sir Harry Brittain journalism fellow.

In addition, Ms Marina Esplin-Jones has been appointed as shipping reporter and will cover shipping news in addition to her duties as a senior reporter.

Ms Esplin-Jones has been a senior news reporter for the past five years, and joined the newspaper after graduating from Northeastern University.