IT is little more than two years since the media was speculating on successor to Vincent Browne as editor of the Sunday Tribune.
Now the books are open again following the resignation this week of Peter Murtagh.
It would appear that the deputy editor and acting editor Helen Callanan wants the job. She has already declared on radio that she would be able to get the necessary investment that Murtagh suggested had not been available during his reign. It is also believed that she made a pitch to the board recently about how she saw the Tribune developing.
Ms Callanan, who is not yet 30, joined the paper during the last days of Vincent Browne. She is from Cork and has worked in journalism for four years.
Other names suggested include the editor of the Examiner, Brian Looney, but probably as a nominee of Independent Newspapers, a 29.9 shareholder. His appointment could resurrect a previous headline - "Looney New Editor". Matt Cooper, the Irish Independent's business editor, is also mentioned. Such a move, it is said, would give him the management experience for when the editorship of the Irish Independent becomes vacant.
The managing director of Independent's provincial newpapers, Jim Farrelly, was interested in the job two years ago. He is currently working at the Kerryman in Tralee and might like a return to Dublin. This, again, would imply that the Indo can nominate the next editor.
Meanwhile, there was some amusement in Cork last weekend. A few months ago Ms Callanan wrote a piece about how the Examiner had gone downmarket since Looney had taken over. One indicator was the number of naked or semi-naked women in the newspaper. Last week, the Tribune, as edited by Ms Callanan, had a full page of naked women on the front of the magazine. Is this the way the Tribune will go?