The Press Association has teamed up with Virgin Media to provide news for its relaunched online news channel. The national news agency is supplying text, photos, graphics and video for its website virginmedia.com.
In addition, several microsites will be created during the year around key events in the news calendar as well as a three-month archive of PA stories.

The North West Evening Mail’s first staff photographer, Fred Strike, has died aged 88.
Among his early work was capturing comedians Laurel and Hardy on film, when Stan Laurel brought Ollie over to see his home town of Ulverston in 1947. He later ran Furness Photo Press, his work taking in weddings, press assignments and technical photos.

The Manchester Evening News has launched its annual awards celebrating north-west business.
Now in their 15th year, the MEN Business of the Year awards recognise excellence in companies based in Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Lancashire.

Former newspaper journalist Penny Fray has taken over as editor of Archant’s LivingEDGE magazine. Penny has previously worked for Liverpool Daily Post and Echo. Living Edge is monthly lifestyle publication covering Cheshire and south Manchester.