The Newspaper Press Fund has changed its name to The Journalists' Charity, in a bid to raise its profile and appeal to all sections of the media.

The charity, which was set up in 1864 and helps journalists and their dependants in distress, has decided to drop its traditional title because it acts as a "road block" to journalists working in areas other than newspapers.

It had already renamed itself NPF: The Journalists' Charity, but its working name will now be The Journalists' Charity.

Chairman Nick Jones, a former BBC journalist, told HoldtheFrontPage: "The name Newspaper Press Fund is a road block which makes journalists from other fields feel they are not welcome.

"It doesn't reflect what the charity does or the people that it represents and only those working in the industry know what it means."

It is hoped the new name will also boost the charity's profile with the general public, and a new website - www.journalistscharity.org.uk - is due to be launched by the end of the year.

The charity is also trying to raise £6m to rebuild its care home, Sandy Cross, in Dorking in Surrey.

As well as running the home it also spends thousands of pounds every week supplementing benefits and income to remove or reduce the distress caused to journalists and their families by ill health, unemployment, sickness, old age or misfortune.