Geoffrey Copeman, vice-chairman of Eastern Counties Newspapers Group, has become only the seventh person to be awarded the Newspaper Society’s prestigious President’s Prize.

The honour is reserved for people who have given exceptional service to the regional newspaper industry.

Mr Copeman is a former president of the Newspaper Society and a former chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulation.

He was presented with the prize at the society’s annual general meeting in London by president James Evans.

Mr Evans said: “Geoffrey Copeman’s selfless service to the industry symbolises what has made this Society such an enduring and effective organisation.

“The society has always looked outwards with its active membership of national, international and European organisations. Its representatives have been ambassadors for the whole industry and not for their own interests. I pay tribute to Geoffrey’s past presidency of this society, his initiation of the society’s strategic review, his membership of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) board, his past chairmanship of ABC, and for the wise counsel he has given your society, which he has served with integrity and vision.”

Mr Copeman’s family were among the founders of the Eastern Daily Press, ECN’s flagship morning title, just over 100 years ago.

He started out in mechanical engineering before joining the ECN group in 1961, specifically to manage the design, construction and equipping of Prospect House, the present ECN head office in Norwich.

From technical management, Mr Copeman moved to general management and, in 1982, became chief executive of the group. He became vice-chairman in 1995, the year he took office as the Newspaper Society’s president. He was chairman of the ABC from August 1996 to December 1999.

He has served on the boards of the Norwich Union Insurance Group, the Press Association and various commercial radio companies and is currently a member of the Newspaper Society Council, the WAN board, and the newspaper specialist panel of the Competition Commission.

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