Canwest Publishing today announced the appointment of Gerry Nott to the position of Editor-in-Chief at The Ottawa Citizen. Previously, Mr. Nott held the position of Editor-in-Chief at Canwest News Service, based in Ottawa.

After an extensive national search over the past several months, Citizen publisher James Orban said the qualities most sought in leading his newsroom were found in downtown Ottawa, where Mr. Nott runs the Canwest News Service, a national news service providing content to Canwest newspapers, the Canada.com network, Global television and commercial clients.

“Gerry is one of the most respected editors in the country, with an unparalleled record of leadership and accomplishment in the business,” said Mr. Orban.

Mr. Nott, 51, has held senior newsroom positions at The Spectator in Hamilton, The Windsor Star, The Calgary Herald, and most recently, the Canwest News Service in Winnipeg, before coming to Ottawa.

“To be given the opportunity to edit a paper with as proud and rich a history of journalistic excellence as The Citizen is humbling and exciting,” said Mr. Nott. “The newsroom has shown ambition, innovation and adaptability as it has moved online to enhance and grow the editorial quality of The Citizen,” said Mr. Nott of his new appointment. “The challenge of providing coverage that’s nationally relevant and locally vital is a balancing act that I’m looking to strike with the team in the Baxter Road newsroom.”

“I see innovation daily on the Citizen’s excellent website, I see solid national reporting on policy issues from its newsroom and the best local coverage available anywhere in Ottawa throughout the paper. This is a news operation that understands this community. I hope to build and grow that bond with our readers,” Mr. Nott said.

He said he has fallen in love with the city since moving here 2005.

“This is a fascinating, beautiful city. All the elements that go along with being a national capital – world class architecture, international flavour, the arts, fantastic parks and natural attractions make this the most appealing city I’ve ever lived in.”

Mr. Nott, who has been a journalist for thirty years, has two children, Alli, 17 and Dylan, 13.

The Ottawa Citizen, the national capital’s 164-year-old newspaper, is read by 493,000 or 54% of Ottawa adults every week, which represents a 76% share of readers for English newspapers read in print or online.

Scott Anderson, Senior Vice President of Content for Canwest Publishing Inc. will take on the responsibilities of Editor-in-Chief at Canwest News Service in addition to his corporate duties. Canwest News Service (CNS) provides high quality original content on international and national topics and events for the North American market. CNS has bureaus in Ottawa, Quebec City, Halifax, Washington, New York, Jerusalem, Afghanistan, Paris and Shanghai.

About Canwest

Canwest Global Communications Corp. (www.canwest.com), (TSX: CGS and CGS.A) an international media company, is Canada's largest media company. In addition to owning the Global Television Network, Canwest is Canada's largest publisher of paid English language daily newspapers and owns, operates and/or holds substantial interests in conventional television, out-of-home advertising, specialty cable channels, web sites and radio stations and networks in Canada, Australia, Turkey, Indonesia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.