A regional daily’s digital editor has been promoted to a newly-reated social media role with its parent company.

Newsquest has announced the appointment of the Bournemouth Echo’s Sam Shepherd as its social media development manager with a brief to “make the most of social media to grow and engage our audiences.”

Sam, who has worked in digital for the Echo since 2008, begins her new Southampton-based role this week, working with individual newsrooms and commercial departments, as well as the company’s central digital team.

She will work alongside digital content development manager Julian Thorpe and report to Toby Granville, the company’s editorial development director.

Sam was recently announced as the winner of Newsquest’s Digital Media Excellence Award for being “instrumental” in increasing her newspaper’s social media following.

Said Toby: “I’m delighted to have appointed Sam Shepherd in this exciting new post as Newsquest’s Social Media Development Manager.

“Sam is an award-winning digital journalist who has transformed the Bournemouth Echo website into being one of the best in the industry with a huge, loyal audience.

“This group-wide role will enable Sam to use her digital expertise and immense talent for social media to work closely with newsrooms to grow and engage our audiences across all of our titles.”

Sam began her career as an editorial assistant at the Crediton Country Courier and the Pulman’s Weekly News, in Axminster, before going on to train at Cardiff University.

She worked as a trainee reporter at the News & Star, Carlisle, and later moved to work as a reporter and feature writer at Bournemouth News and Picture Service.

Before joining the Echo, Sam served as deputy news editor, news editor and assistant chief sub with special responsibility for the internet at the Gloucestershire Echo.

Of her new role, she said: “I’m really excited about it, although I will miss my amazing team at Bournemouth and our brilliant readers.”