Regional press publisher Archant has appointed Mike Walsh to its board as a non-executive director.

Mike has 34 years of experience in advertising and brand marketing and is currently a director of advertising agency Ogilvy and Mather South Africa and Ogilvy and Mather Africa Inc.

The 60-year-old has also been chairman since 2004 of the UK Disasters Emergency Committee, an umbrella organisation for 13 UK charities including The Red Cross and Oxfam.

A campaign by Gloucestershire weekly The Forester for better broadband internet access to the region has reached the House of Commons.

Articles from the ‘Speed It Up’ campaign were taken to a Commons Select Committee by a manager from the local branch of the Federation of Small Businesses.

It is supporting The Forester’s bid to bring fibre optic connections to the area.

Editor Viv Hargreaves said: “It’s great to be able to make an impact even though we’re a tiny newspaper on an issue that’s so fundamental to the future wellbeing of our local economy.”

A press ball later this month in Glasgow is offering a host of prizes including flights to New York and a motor racing day at Knockhill Circuit.

There is also a long weekend in a lodge on offer courtesy of a whisky distillery.

The event, on 13 March at the Radisson Hotel, is being run by the Glasgow and west of Scotland branch of the Journalists’ Charity and will also feature live music and a three-course meal.

For table bookings and more information contact Margaret Morrison on [email protected] or call 0141 302 7005.

Membership of the National Union of Journalists has just become that little bit more expensive.

From Monday this week, subs have increased between 8p and 15p per week. The NUJ says it’s the first increase in subs for over two years.

Craig Manning, arts editor with the Wirral Globe, is appearing in a local forthcoming performance of Oliver!.

He will be playing the undertaker Mr Sowerberry in the show which will be staged at the Gladstone Theatre Port Sunlight from 17 to 20 March.