Echo man retires after 42 years (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Phil Burner retires from the Daily Echo after 42 years of service
8:59am Friday 1st April 2011 in Southampton
FORTY-two years of continuous service to the Daily Echo came to an end yesterday as Phil Burner retired.
He joined the paper in October 1968 as a darkroom assistant helping to develop pictures before becoming a staff photographer in 1972 and rising to picture editor in 1993.
After overseeing the change to digital pictures, he switched roles in 1998 to become the content editor of the Daily Echo’s new website, which he designed himself.
His most memorable moment was the day after Saints won the FA Cup in 1976 when he was invited on board the open top celebration bus with the players, which toured the city past tens of thousands of fans.
Other highlights were meeting famous people including Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
Phil, 62, said: “The best thing about being a photographer is something happens and you get the chance to actually go and talk to the people who make the news.
As a photographer you often become a second pair of ears alongside the reporter.”
Asked what he would miss about the newsroom, he said: “It’s that excitement, that buzz. When everyone’s back is against the wall, it just works. People start shouting, people pitch in and people come in on their days off because that is what we do.”
Editor Ian Murray made a presentation in front of a packed newsroom full of colleagues past and present.
He said: “I’d like to express my gratitude to Phil for the way he worked tirelessly to create one of the most successful news websites in the country.
“He will be sorely missed by his colleagues.”
Comments(10)
ÚTS
says...
12:13pm Fri 1 Apr 11
Paul-Lewis
says...
1:25pm Fri 1 Apr 11
freemantlegirl2
says...
2:27pm Fri 1 Apr 11
Many best wishes from us x
Wasserstoftsbombe
says...
3:19pm Fri 1 Apr 11
No_Fuss
says...
3:34pm Fri 1 Apr 11
Phil Burner
says...
3:45pm Fri 1 Apr 11
As you might imagine, I've not been flavor of the month with some over the years, particularly when removing over-the-top comments or even banning the poster altogether.
I think part of our success is, in part, down to the vibrancy of the site. On many national newspaper websites and the BBC they operate in a different way – you submit, they take a look at it and if they like it they place in on the live site. So the general public only sees the filtered comments.
The Echo site works the other way – you submit, it goes straight on the site but if a complaint is received then the post is looked at and action taken.
I wish you all well, I’ll be popping back to make sure you are behaving yourselves.
All the best
Phil
Tirau Dan
says...
8:56pm Fri 1 Apr 11
Phil Burner wrote:Enjoy a long safe happy retirement Phil. Thanks for putting up with us all and running a thoroughly decent site. Many of us have met each other through the Echo and has a lot of pleasure from it.
Thank you for your kind comments and best wishes.
As you might imagine, I've not been flavor of the month with some over the years, particularly when removing over-the-top comments or even banning the poster altogether.
I think part of our success is, in part, down to the vibrancy of the site. On many national newspaper websites and the BBC they operate in a different way – you submit, they take a look at it and if they like it they place in on the live site. So the general public only sees the filtered comments.
The Echo site works the other way – you submit, it goes straight on the site but if a complaint is received then the post is looked at and action taken.
I wish you all well, I’ll be popping back to make sure you are behaving yourselves.
All the best
Phil
.
If you ever get out to NZ.. look me up.. If you still retain shutter passion we'd love to have you for a guest visit to Matamata and/or Cambridge Camera Clubs (Waikato NZ).
.
All the best and Cheers
DAVID BURNER
says...
8:47pm Mon 4 Apr 11
Well done dad and I blame you for FORCING ME to follow in your footsteps....though I won't last 42 years.
Love your son David...aged 41yrs.
DAVID BURNER
says...
8:48pm Mon 4 Apr 11
Well done dad and I blame you for FORCING ME to follow in your footsteps....though I won't last 42 years.
Love your son David...aged 41yrs.
cyber_fug says...
10:15am Fri 1 Apr 11
Now Echo, run the story about the 70+ motoring correspondent in Brighton that wants to work for nothing...... and that his paid Southampton counterpart is suffering from this .....