The Society of Editors has appointed a former journalism student as its new research assistant.

Claire Meadows joins the SoE after just completing a fast-track course accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists at Liverpool Community College.

She has worked since February as a community reporter for the Liverpool Echo and as the main features writer for Lick Magazine in Nottingham, also campaigning and writing on press freedom, social care and reproductive health issues in Kenya and Uganda.

Claire said: “Considering how lucky I was to secure the job before I’d even taken my final exams, it has yet to disappoint. I’m overjoyed to be working for the Society of Editors; it really is all it’s billed to be – working at the heart of the media industry.

“I’m looking forward to working with Bob Satchwell and the team, editors and politicians to fight for greater press freedoms.”

Claire replaces another former student, Lucy Ross-Millar, who has gone on to work as a reporter on the Cambridge News.