Northcliffe Media’s MD Michael Pelosi is the new president of the Newspaper Society.

He takes over the role this week from the chairman of NWN Media Russell Whitehair.

Michael said: “This is a challenging time for local media.

“It is a pleasure to be representing the NS as its president at a time when so many innovations in the delivery of local news and content are being conceived and developed by the sector.”

Michael has worked in the media industry for 20 years, starting out as Northcliffe Newspapers’ group finance director in 1988.

He became the company’s deputy managing director in 1995 and then MD in 2004.