Now that Margo Kingston has left the Herald to build her Web Diary as an independent media voice, we can safely rule her out of the running for the vacant SMH editor’s post. OK, that was always a long shot, despite the wacky conspiracy theorists on Tim Blair’s blog throwing her up as a contender.

As Fairfax continues its “international search” for an editor to replace Robert Whitehead, news reaches us that Sunday Age editor Alan Oakley has emerged as a contender.

The former Sunday Telegraph and Herald Sun
editor has a fan in Fairfax editor-in-chief of metropolitan newspapers
Mark Scott. This is what Scott said of Oakley when he appointed him Sunday Age
editor two years ago: “Alan Oakley is an outstanding editor who brings
with him significant experience in a number of important editorial
roles both in Melbourne and Sydney. Alan will be responsible for
overseeing the future development and growth of The Sunday Age as Victoria’s quality Sunday newspaper.”

Sure, it’s the usual PR pap, but with Scott as acting Herald
editor taking a key role in the selection process, word is that Oakley
is a live contender, sitting on the front row of the grid with The Australian’s European correspondent, Peter Wilson, Lis Sterel, the current managing editor of news at the SMH, and Herald executive editor Tom Burton.

Then
there’s Scott himself, who has not been ruled out of the running and
has the inside advantage of warming the seat while the search continues.