AddThis SmartLayers

News in brief

Essex freelance journalist Kim Gandy came second in the local elections for the Crouch Ward of Basildon Council.
The English Democrats candidate polled 420 votes, behind the Conservative candidate who polled 1,121. Labour and the Lib Dems scored 279 and 261 votes respectively.
Kim is now considering standing against Angela Smith MP (Lab) for Basildon in the General Election.


Council officers barred a Colchester Evening Gazette reporter from a crunch waste collection meeting, claiming it was not a public meeting.
The newspaper had been invited by one of the interested parties but officers refused to go ahead with the debate until after the journalist had gone.


Editors have asked their MPs to sign a House of Commons motion calling on the Government to honour pledges on fees for information under the Freedom of Information Act.
It was reported that the Treasury was considering allowing authorities to charge up to £575 for providing information to outside agencies, such as journalists, in some cases up to 1,000 per cent above initial expectations.


A magazine has been launched by the team that produces the Scarborough Evening News to offer lifestyle features and advertising in the circulation area covering Scarborough, Whitby, Beverley, Bridlington, Driffield and Malton.
The magazine Prestige Lifestyle focuses on fashion, travel and cookery.


Former Sunday Independent editor and Bedfordshire on Sunday editorial director Andrew Kelly has teamed up with Matt Knowles, former Sunday Times political editor, to launch a new press and PR agency covering Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire.


Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail [email protected]