Liz Page, editor of the Evening Press, York, has won the unanimous nomination of the board of the Society of Editors to take over as vice president next month.

If the annual meeting in Cardiff in October backs the board’s recommendation, Ms Page will become president the following year.

And she has stated her intention to promote the role of women at senior level in the newspaper industry.

“There are still far too few women editors. Whether or not the society has a role to play on this issue is a subject I am keen to debate,” she said.

Current president, Neil Fowler, editor of the Western Mail said: “Liz is an experienced editor who will carry on the high profile and detailed lobbying work that the society has undertaken in its first two years. It is also good that there will be a woman president so early in the society’s history.”

Mr Fowler is due to be succeeded as President next month by Ed Curran, editor of the Belfast Telegraph.

Ms Page came top of the poll in the society’s first elections last year. In recent months she has taken special responsibility for the regions.

She said: “The Society of Editors has got off to a flying start, with anumber of key successes this year.

“I look forward to playing a part in building on those successes. Inparticular, I am keen to ensure the regions feel fully involved with thesociety.

“And of course, I am keen personally to promote the role of women at senior level in the industry.

“I shall also do my utmost to support the incoming president, Ed Curran, during the year ahead.”

Mr Curran said: “I think it will be particularly valuable to have Liz firstly as vice president and then as president because of her keen interest in the regions. As a relatively new body we need to continue to reach out to editors in all parts of the media beyond London.”

Ms Page, 41, has two daughters aged 13 and 12. Her husband Brian is a freelance journalist. During her career she has been used to challenging and innovative roles.

She was the first head of content at The Northern Echo, she was also the first female daily newspaper editor in the history of Westminster Press. She sees the role of the modern editor as being more complex and demanding than ever before particularly with managing the challenges of the Internet and other spin-off products to their core businesses.

In her election message last year, Ms Page said that now there was a strong, national voice for editors, she believed the society must represent the needs of modern editors. In particular, she said it must shake off the remnants of its Old Boys’ Club image to reflect truly the cross section of editors it represented.

She was nominated for the board last year by Mike Glover, editor of the WestmorlandGazette, Alison Hastings, editor of the Newcastle Evening Chronicle and Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo.

As well as Ms Page the other directors of the society are: Neil Fowler, president, Ed Curran, vice president, Geoff Elliott, immediate past president, Phil Harding, controller editorial policy at the BBC, Peter Cole, Professor of Journalism, Sheffield University, Ranald Allan, David Gledhill, Bath Chronicle, Paul Potts, PA News, Alan Power, Sheffield Telegraph, Chris Robertson, Carlton Television, Keith Sutton, News and Star, Carlisle, Graham Cole, Eyetec Media, is treasurer and Bob Satchwell is executive director.

A vacancy will occur when Geoff Elliott, now head of journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, ends his term of office in October.

The society has more than 450 members in national, regional and local newspapers, broadcasting, new media, media law and journalism education.

You can visit its website here at www.ukeditors.com

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