He succeeds Michael Pelosi, managing director of Northcliffe Media, who has held the post for the past year.

It marks the pinnacle of a 38-year career in the regional press for Mr Fordham which began in 1971 when he joined Cambridge Newspapers as a sales administration assistant.

Georgina Harvey, Trinity Mirror Regionals managing director, becomes NS vice-president.

Mr Fordham said: "The NS continues to have an important role representing local media and it is a pleasure to have been elected as its president for the coming year.

"Like all media, the industry is experiencing unprecedented challenges as a result of the recession but we have also seen that the need for independent, grassroots news has never been greater.

"Local newspapers must to be allowed to continue to fight for the causes their readers believe in, and to continue to develop into truly multimedia news organisations in the digital age."

Married with three children, Mr Fordham has been chief executive of Iliffe News and Media since 2003 and currently serves on the NS Council.