Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond will be the guest speaker at an annual press charity lunch.

The event, organised by the Glasgow and West of Scotland branch of the Journalists’ Charity, is being held on 24 April.

For tickets and more information email Lorraine Woods on [email protected].

The Bristol branch of the National Union of Journalists has organised an ‘Opportunities Day’ for out-of-work editorial staff following Northcliffe’s decision to shed around 45 posts at its newspapers in the city.

The event takes place on 4 April at the Bristol’s Ramada Plaza Hotel and is intended to bring journalists together with representatives from the PR industry, new media and other sectors. Email [email protected] for details and to book a place.

Elsewhere, the NUJ is hosting a public meeting at Manchester Town Hall tonight about MEN Media’s plans to axe 78 editorial jobs, merge operations and close district offices. It starts at 6.30pm – all are welcome.

Yorkshire Post sub-editor and National Union of Journalists activist Pete Lazenby has contributed to a new book about the miners’ strike.

Pete is one of several writers to commit their memories of the 1984-85 action for ‘Shafted: The Media, the Miners’ Strike and the Aftermath’.

Anne Scargill, estranged wife of former National Union of Mineworkers president Arthur, said she only became involved in the strike because of Pete’s reporting at the time.

Northcliffe Media has rebranded one of its regional divisions after a company restructure announced at Christmas.

The Midlands and North East will now operate under the one banner ‘Northcliffe North’.

The division’s papers include big regional dailies such as the Hull Daily Mail and Nottingham Evening Post.

The Guild of Agricultural Journalists has elected a new chairman.

Nicholas Bond, from Stratford-upon-Avon, is a long-standing stalwart of the organisation which represents the interests of journalists and PR specialists working in the UK rural media.

Nicholas said he was keen to see the Guild continue to develop during his two-year tenure at the helm.