Mercator Media Ltd has recently appointed Jake Frith to the role of editor at Maritime Journal following Larz Bourne’s retirement after 13 years at the helm of this essential read for Europe’s commercial marine sector.
Jake comes to MJ after four years as editor and editor-at-large of Sailing Today, a UK news stand sail cruising magazine. After just a fortnight at Maritime Journal Jake is already ebullient about his new role: “I’m pleasantly surprised by the reputation that MJ holds within the industries that it covers. Seemingly, everywhere I go, I bump into people who have enjoyed the title for a decade or more and despite the proliferation of other web-based titles, still feel it to be their first stop, pin-sharp provider of commercial marine news and information. With loyal readers and loyal advertisers, all growing in numbers, I’m very proud to take on this exciting publication. I cannot thank Larz, the outgoing editor, enough for the way he has clearly nurtured this magazine”.
While he hails from a leisure marine industry background, Jake is pleased to be shifting over onto the commercial and workboat side. “You could say that I’m hanging up the yacht club tie and white slacks, to slip into the oil spattered seaboots of the professional mariner! While I certainly relish the change, I am at heart a lover of all boats; big ones, small ones, power or sail, and I’m delighted to have made a career writing about them and the industries that have grown around them.”
Larz Bourne, MJ’s outgoing editor, said of his time at Maritime Journal and plans for the future: “I have retired from full time editing but am carrying on part time as a journalist and PR. I have enjoyed my years at MJ, covering the European marine industries through an era of substantial change and rapid growth. My greatest pleasure has come from meeting the many good people who make up the broad and vibrant community which MJ serves. I wish them all the best for the future."
