Tory politicians are being urged to bone up on the issues affecting the regional press industry ahead of next year’s general election.

The Newspaper Society has sent Tory frontbenchers a briefing document outlining issues such as the downturn in advertising revenue caused by the recession, government advertising and competition from taxpayer-funded council publications.

It follows a series of meetings between the NS and members of the Shadow Cabinet over the course of the year.

The Derby Telegraph will get a new acting managing director from next Monday as part of a temporary management shake-up by Northcliffe Media.

Michelle Gesell will be moving from the role of advertising director at the publisher’s Stoke and Tamworth centres to becoming acting MD in Derby for a six-month period.

Regional MD Phil Inman said the move was designed to enable existing Nottingham and Derby MD Joanne Glynn to focus more on the Nottingham business over the coming months.

A former weekly editor who has launched a new training and PR business is running a beginners’ workshop for would-be sub-editors.

David Porter, former editor of the Tameside Advertiser and the Heywood Advertiser, has teamed up with Manchester-based News Associates to offer the one-day QuarkXPress course

The £90 course is being held on Sunday 1 November at News Associates, Piccadilly, Manchester. More information at davidportermedia.co.uk

Industry leaders are to meet housing minister John Healey to discuss the ongoing row over whether councils should be required to place planning notices in local papers.

The government plans to remove the requirement for statutory notices to be published in local newspapers, but the Newspaper Society is opposing the move.

A formal consulation by the department for Communities and Local Government on the proposed change is due to conclude on 23 October.

The shortlist has been revealed for the 26th annual new journalist of the year awards.

Run by the Periodicals Training Council, they celebrate the brightest new talent in the magazine and B2B sector across eight categories.

The ceremony takes place on 20 November in London – visit the awards website to read the full shortlist and for more information.