A former community editor at a regional daily who later went into PR is to take up a new teaching role.

Paul Foster, left, has been appointed journalism programme leader at Highbury College, in Portsmouth.

He replaces Dave King, who left the college to become editor-in-chief of Newsquest’s recently-acquired Berkshire division.

Paul, 37, has previous experience with Highbury, helping to launch the industry-first ‘classroom in a newsroom’ at The News, where the college’s one-year journalism students are based.

Said Paul: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be taking up this prestigious post. Highbury College is renowned for producing quality journalists.

“In fact, if you go to any newsroom up and down the country there will inevitably be someone who trained at Highbury. I want to continue that tradition while ensuring the award-winning NCTJ-accredited courses we offer remain industry-focused.”

Paul began his journalism career at the Newbury Weekly News in 2000, before moving to The News as a senior reporter in 2003.

He was appointed chief reporter and then moved onto the newsdesk, where he remained until December 2012.

After a brief spell as a freelance production editor, he re-joined The News in September 2013 to take up the new role of community editor.

He left the paper a year ago to join Gosport-based PR company Blackball Media.