The chief executive of Tesco, Sir Terry Leahy, will be the guest speaker at the Newspaper Society’s Annual Lunch at Claridges on May 9. The event, to be hosted by society president Russell Whitehair, will take place during Local Newspaper Week 2008.

Grant applications are now being taken for financial help from the Journalism Diversity Fund.
Anyone wishing to study a journalism course from September 2008 and who would like help can visit www.journalismdiversityfund.co.uk.

The Lancashire Evening Post has produced a new book of photography capturing the Red Rose county. Lancashire’s Four Seasons contains images of the region taken from the photographic archives of Johnston Press’ newspapers in the county.

Fourteen representatives from National Council for the Training of Journalists’ accredited undergraduate courses met up at the University of Teesside.
Jane Singer, professor of digital journalism at UCLan and Darren Thwaites, editor of the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette, both gave presentations regarding converging media and the skills that journalists need to succeed in the industry in the 21st century.

The NUJ is holding a rep training course next month in London. The Stage 1 officers course is on January 24 and 25 whereas the Stage 2 representing members class is on February 21 and 22.
Stage 3 negotiating and bargaining is on January 22 and 23 – all three are at the NUJ’s head office, in Grays Inn Road. E-mail [email protected] for details.