Pamela Stirling has been appointed editor of the Listener, New Zealand's largest selling current affairs magazine.

Stirling is currently the magazine's Assistant Ed, and will step into Finlay Macdonald's still-warm shoes on 2 February 2004. In the press release, Listener publisher Wendy Bloxham says:

Pamela has been with the magazine as writer since 1980, with several breaks. She is an excellent journalist. She's an ideas generator. She has written many circulation-boosting and award-winning stories over the years. She is a working parent and she knows what's important to our characteristically affluent and intelligent baby-boomer readership.

Pamela's use of economics and Asian political science in her degree with her work in the export sector at Trade and Industry, combined with awards for fresh and compelling reporting on everything from crime to health, provides the solid background required to head up the country's flagship current affairs magazine. She is also a great supporter of arts and culture which is core to the Listener's editorial offering.

Pamela is highly regarded amongst her professional peers in the wider media for her intelligence, incisiveness and quick wit. She is respected by the Listener team as hard working, a great motivator and also for her sense of fun.

Stirling adds her bit to the press release:

As a passionate New Zealander, I relish the challenge to head this magazine as it celebrates its 65th birthday next year. With its award-winning team, this is the magazine that breaks the issues. The Listener is one of the country's most prestigious media brands. I am proud to be leading it into its next dynamic life-phase.

Pamela is married to Brent Lewis, Principal of Avondale College. They have two teenage sons.

UPDATE: Wendy Bloxham, Listener publisher and the CEO of New Zealand Magazines, announced her resignation on Friday 12 December. She said:

With the Listener, I feel very privileged to have achieved stability for this extraordinary magazine in the face of increasing competition, not just from other magazines but also from the broadcast and print media.

No word on Bloxham's plans for the future. Yet.