John Bryant's departure from the Telegraph group is hardly a surprise. It might seem overly cynical to observe that he had served his purpose and that there was no reason for the Telegraph management to keep him around any longer. Cynical but, let's face it, also the truth.
Bryant achieved what was required of him. He steadied the ship after Martin Newland's resignation and then managed to steer it through the stormy waters caused by redundancies, resignations and the move to Victoria from Canary Wharf. That he did so with a measured calm and his trademark politeness is a tribute to him and - credit where it's due - to the ceo, Murdoch MacLennan, in choosing such a capable stand-in captain.
Despite his own misgivings about management initiatives he regarded as mistaken, Bryant remained loyal. Nor is he likely to go on the record about his true feelings since he has undoubtedly been handsomely rewarded for his work. Anyway, it's not his style to dish the dirt.
Given that his job for the past three months, editor-in-chief, has been largely ceremonial, his leaving doesn't change matters at the Daily Telegraph he edited until Will Lewis was given the chair in October. The die is cast now for the Telegraph titles. Their future depends on Lewis's ability to attract a new audience through the growth of its multi-platform journalism. This will, of course, also make a difference to the Sunday Telegraph, now edited capably by Patience Wheatcroft. Seen from this perspective, Bryant represents a bridge from a newsprint past to a digital future, not a bad legacy for a man who has served journalism well for so long.
