Johnston Press chief executive Fred Johnston CBE was presented with the Newspaper Society’s prestigious President’s Prize at the Society AGM.

As well as his role at Johnston Press, he is also chairman of the Society’s political, editorial and regulatory affairs committee and a former NS president.

Society president Alec Davidson, who presented the prize, said: “Freddie Johnston’s contribution to the industry and the Society has been invaluable.

“He leaves the PERA committee in good health and has dealt with a number of key issues including VAT, the environment, press freedom and training.”

The President’s Prize is awarded to people who have given exceptional service to the regional newspaper industry. It has only been awarded on seven previous occasions.

Fred Johnston began his newspaper career as a trainee reporter on the Liverpool Echo, then became a sub-editor and leader-writer on the Liverpool Daily Post.

He joined F Johnston & Co Ltd, the family firm, in 1962 and became managing director in June 1973, chairman in 1975 and chief executive of Johnston Newspaper Group in 1980.

He was president of the Newspaper Society 1989-90 and is also past-president of the Scottish Newspaper Proprietors’ Association (now SNPA).

He also held the position of appeal chairman of the Newspaper Press Fund in 1995, and director of the International Federation of Newspaper Publishers 1990 -1995. He has been a member of the Press Council 1974-88, and a member of the Council of the Commonwealth Press Union since 1975.

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