The National Union of Journalists says members at the CN Group are to consider a revised offer from the company after union representatives met with management on Wednesday.
The closure of its final-salary pension scheme has led to an ongoing dispute at the North West Evening Mail, Carlisle News & Star, Cumberland News and Whitehaven News, with staff calling for compensation.
The NUJ says the new offer includes new money and meets a number of members’ concerns, and this will be discussed at a chapel meeting next week.

A “safe house” for exiled asylum-seeking journalists who have been forced out of their home countries is to be set up in Bristol.
The pilot is the work of the city-based Exiled Journalist Network, and will provide accommodation and assistance, according to Forward Maisokwadzo, a Zimbabwean exile, who helped set up the Network, and who is also part of the MediaWise Trust.

Former RAF Tornado pilot and Iraqi prisoner of war John Peters was the guest of honour at a Birmingham Press Club event, where he told the audience of his experiences of being tortured for nearly two months until the end of the first Gulf conflict.
He now runs a successful performance development consultancy in Bromsgrove.

Animal photographer Richard Austin’s nature shots for the Western Morning News have provided inspiration for a local television programme Richard Austin’s Animal Magic, aired in the ITV Westcountry region.
The six-programme Sunday evening series is mid-way through, with each programme following Richard as he gets the very best shots of local wildlife.

A former editor of the Somerset Standard is about to notch up 69 years as a Scout.
Alan Sandall, (80), is one of the organisation’s longest-serving members and was invested into the 63rd Reading troupe in June, 1938.

A city-wide writing assignment is offering youngsters a chance to work at the Peterborough Evening Telegraph for the day, helping write and edit the paper’s youth page.
Primary and secondary school pupils can write a report on school production, sporting event or school trip to enter.