A third-year student on University College Falmouth's BA (Hons) Photography course, Monica Stromdahl, has been named as the winner of the Olympus Digital Photographer of the Year Award at The Observer Hodge Photographic Awards for 2006.

The focus of the 17th World Newspaper Advertising Conference & Expo will be on what newspapers are doing to create new advertising revenues and increase market share.
The conference, to be held in Zürich, Switzerland, on February 22 and 23, is organised by the World Association of Newspapers and hosted by Swiss Press. It promises to deliver the best advertising ideas and initiatives that are producing new revenues for newspapers.

Daily Post deputy news editor Rob Davies and his wife Kate have launched their own blog about the trials and tribulations of awaiting the arrival of their first baby. It's at:
http://ourfirstbaby.welshblogs.co.uk.

The Swindon Advertiser has hosted a Christmas party for youngsters whose families lost money in the collapse of hamper firm farepak.
As well as launching a Farepak Fiasco campaign, which has attracted readers on the website from all over the country and has been mentioned approvingly in Parliament, the Advertiser decided to hold a party to put a bit of cheer back into the festive season, with catering, entertainment, face painting and crackers for the kids.

The Evening Star in Ipswich has renewed its sponsorship of the Witches speedway club.
It will be the ninth consecutive year that the paper has been the main sponsor.