Experienced former regional press journalist Paul Linford has been appointed as the new publisher of HoldtheFrontPage.

Paul, pictured left, has been managing the site in an acting capacity since Patrick Astill stood down after eight years in the post this summer and has now been given the role on a permanent basis.

He said: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to take HoldtheFrontPage forward and to build on Patrick’s sterling work.

“These are challenging times for the whole industry but the site remains the first port of call for jobs and news about the regional press and I am confident that we can take it to new heights.”

Paul has worked in the regional press industry for 22 years since joining the Mansfield Chad as a trainee in 1986.

He subsequently worked for the Derby Evening Telegraph and South Wales Echo before joining The Journal, Newcastle, as its London-based political editor in 1996.

He was named BT North-East Journalist of the Year in 1998 and became an assistant editor of The Journal in 2001, while continuing to be based at the House of Commons in Westminster.

He rejoined Northcliffe in 2004 to work on digital publishing projects and later helped launch Associated Northcliffe Digital’s award-winning obituaries site, Lasting Tribute.

Paul lives in Derbyshire with his wife and two children aged four and one and lists fellwalking, DIY, cookery and political blogging among his favourite pastimes.

Patrick, who oversaw the growth of the site from around 20,000 page views a week to nearly ten times that number, moved to another senior role within Associated Northcliffe Digital.