The 2006 Local Newspaper Week press pack is now available on the Newspaper Society website. The pack will also be sent to all regional press editors, newspaper sales managers and Featurelink co-ordinators on a CD by the end of March.
This year’s pack contains a wealth of information on the regional press industry, as well as ideas for how newspapers can get involved in the week and run this year’s sporting theme.

A first edition of a newspaper thought to be worth up to £1,000 has been given to the original printers by a man who bought it for 50p at a flea market.
The rare edition of the Glasgow Looking Glass was discovered by collector Bill Barclay.

Thieves made off with computers in a break-in at the Kentish Times offices in Sidcup. The building is currently being refurbished.

Stuart McPherson, divisional managing director Scotland and managing director of Johnston (Falkirk) Ltd, has announced his retirement in April after 35 years with the company.
Stuart, who began his career as a journalist, has held a number of senior editorial and general management roles in the group.

Readers have voted to save a weekly newspaper columnist who was seemingly threatened with the boot after a website was set up calling for an end to his “utter drivel”.
The future of South Manchester Reporter columnist James Chapman-Kelly hung in the balance as the paper’s readers were asked to ‘Back Him or Sack Him’. But his job is safe after 131 votes were cast in favour of him getting the axe and 140 against.