Nancy Fielder, doing the job she loves in the city she loves

Nancy Fielder is editor of The Star, Sheffield Telegraph and Doncaster Free Press. She is the first woman to edit a newspaper in Sheffield.

If you check out her social media feeds, football, art and the built environment emerge as themes. Of these, it’s the built environment she is most passionate about – “the city really needs to move forwards but has got a lot worth protecting.”

She was nominated for the podcast by Dan Hayes, the Star’s business reporter. Does she think of herself as a compassionate leader? She tries to bring the same attitudes and thoughts she has towards her friends and family into the workplace. She speculates that it’s a sign of being compassionate that you acknowledge that you don’t always succeed in being compassionate.

The foundation of her practice as a leader is listening. She has strong ideas on what she wants, but equally recognises that the local journalism landscape is changing rapidly. Listening and openness help her and the paper to adapt.

In February last year the BBC ran a piece on the demise of the local newspaper and in May this year the Guardian claimed that the decline of newspapers is “starving communities of news.” Is it fair to say that local newspapers are in decline? Nancy says that while print is in decline, online news is thriving – The Star’s audience is as numerous now as it was when the print edition was at its peak.

Staff numbers have declined but the remaining team is very tight knit and still manages to run some great stories. Bylines no longer have the kudos that they once have, but journalists can see the response of the public to a story in real time.

Nancy doesn’t single out one person who has inspired her on her leadership journey, but lots of different people have helped her and boosted her confidence “and they are not the sort of people who would recognise they have done that because it is everyday acts of kindness and words of encouragement.”

Having children helps her keep a sense of perspective and has compelled her to compartmentalise her life. And the children wouldn’t allow it any event.

When Nancy last appeared on BBC Breakfast (21/9/19) one of the subjects raised was some of the comments John Humphreys has made since his retirement (about feeling frustrated as a journalist). Does Nancy have things that she wants to say but feels she can’t right now? She has learnt to put across her point of view in a reasoned way and it generally receives a favourable reception.

Nancy has her finger on the South Yorkshire pulse perhaps more so than anyone, even local politicians. What single change does she believe would achieve the greatest improvement in the lives of her readers? She would want to close the divides that exists within the region, while acknowledging that this is no easy task. She would want to spread the know-how behind the pockets of manufacturing and educational brilliance more widely. It would help for a start if people from all sides of the city would travel more widely.

Nancy tries to use her position to reach out to younger women and encourage them. She organised a “Women in Sheffield” awards last year and is looking to organise a bigger event in the future. She observes “it doesn’t take much from somebody else to make you question your lack of confidence.”

Nancy works hard to listen to and understand diverse communities. She highlights that Facebook are funding local news reporters. The Star employs a Chinese and a Roma-Slovak reporter. They have helped the paper get stories across from a different angle.

Nancy tries to promote independent thought among her readers. She sees the role of the press as informing people and encouraging them to vote, but not telling them how to vote.  

She doesn’t read much specifically on the subject of leadership. Her advice would be to listen and read as widely as you can. “Pick up things you normally wouldn’t want to try and give...