A new editor has been appointed at the Newry Democrat.

Jackie McKeown joined the award-winning team at the tabloid weekly in Northern Ireland as the paper relaunched in full colour.

Along with the new editor and new format, the Thomas Crosbie Holdings title is offering stronger news content and increased advertising.

Jackie, (38), said: "It's very exciting to take the reins at this stage of the paper's development and I am confident we will grow, what is already a hugely successful paper, hand-in-glove with our young, vibrant city.

"I'm delighted to join the very dedicated and talented team which has worked so hard to build the Democrat into Newry and Mourne's brightest weekly."

Jackie moved to the Democrat after a four-year stint as news editor at the News Letter in Belfast.

Originally from Banbridge, Co Down, she started her career as an NCTJ trainee on the Croydon Advertiser, south London, before freelancing for the Sunday Mirror and London Evening Standard.

She has also worked at the Sunday Life, Belfast; UTV's Kelly Show; the Ulster Star, Lisburn - where she was named IPR Provincial Journalist of the Year - and The Examiner, Crossmaglen.

Thomas Crosbie Holdings Ltd. owns 14 newspapers: the Irish Examiner, Evening Echo, Waterford News and Star, Western People, Sligo Weekender, The Kingdom, Newry Democrat, Down Democrat, the Nationalist and Leinster Times, Kildare Nationalist, Laois Nationalist, The Sunday Business Post, Roscommon Herald and The Irish Post.