Leading newspaper publisher Trinity Mirror has won a prestigious accolade for tackling climate change after cutting its electricity use by a fifth.

It has been awarded the “Carbon Trust Standard” for organisations that can prove they are tackling climate change by making genuine reductions in their carbon emissions.

In the past three years the group has reduced its carbon emissions by 18.1pc, and is only one of 12 companies nationwide to be awarded the certificate.

In 2003, group electricity usage was 150,000MWh’s. In 2007 this had been reduced to 122,352MWh’s.

Paul Vickers, Secretary and Group Legal Director, Trinity Mirror plc, said: “We are delighted to have achieved the Carbon Trust Standard and without the support and genuine engagement of our staff we wouldn’t have made such impressive progress.

Trinity Mirror has set up a Carbon Management Project Team to drive through further savings of 10,500 tonnes of CO2 per year by 2010.

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NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear is heading to Glastonbury today for a long weekend of campaigning.

Jeremy will be helping to run the Leftfield – a stage at Glastonbury run by Battersea and Wandsworth Trade Union Council, which mixes music, comedy and film with political debate.

“Over the next four days we’ve got bands, speakers, stalls, rallies on slavery, anti-racism, trade union rights and much more,” he said.

“It’s not eveyone’s idea of a holiday but I get a real buzz and inspiration from all the campaigners, bands and comedians putting in so much effort to highlight injustice.”

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The Chester Chronicle has begun its annual search for the unsung heroes and heroines on its patch.

The Trinity-Mirror owned paper has teamed up with ScottishPower to host Your Champions 2008, which highlights the good work of individuals and groups in the community.

The winners will be honoured at a glittering presentation ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, on November 14.

Your Champions is now in its 20th year and the paper is asking its readers who should get the red-carpet treatment this year.

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Two students from the MA in Newspaper Journalism at the University of Sheffield have won shorthand awards.

Lucy Ewing, 25, won the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ prize for the best 110wpm shorthand note and transcription at 100 per cent accuracy, during the past academic year.

Rick Burin, 24, was awarded the Harry Butler Award, for the best 100wpm shorthand note and transcription at 100 per cent accuracy.

Lucy now works at The Bolton News while Rick is at the Harrogate Advertiser. Both received a certificate and a cheque for £50.

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The Guardian is calling for entries to its Our Lives photography competition.

There are five different categories chosen to reflect different aspects of modern living: Our People, Our Culture, Our Work, Our Environment and Our Lives in Motion which is specifically for video entries.

Work will be judged by industry experts including the Guardian’s picture editor Roger Tooth and model Lisa Snowdon.

Prizes include a holiday and photography equipment – for more details visit the competition website.

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One of Fleet Street’s most legendary columnists is supporting the Journalists’ Charity from beyond the grave.

A selection of the work of the Mirror’s Sir William Connor – Cassandra At His Finest and Funniest – is being published by Revel Barker and royalties from sales will come straight to the charity.

The book is only £9.99 and can be ordered from any decent book shop.

The London Press Club drinks on Thursday July 3 at the Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street, is also being held in aid of the charity.