Birmingham Post and Mail reporter Rob Tanner is joining the Leicester Mercury as its chief Leicester City FC writer.

The hunt is over after acting Mercury editor Keith Perch received around 140 applicants for the post.

The search caused quite a lot of debate on HoldtheFrontPage after we carried a story in response to Keith’s blog post, asking whether the successful applicant should be a Leicester City fan or not.

Rob, who has been covering West Midlands football for the past decade, is due to start in a couple of weeks.

The Mercury is also planning to launch an expanded 16-page sports supplement every Monday once the season starts.

The Campaign for Freedom of Information is running two half-day courses in London on 20 October.

The morning course provides an introduction to the legislation, covering both the FoI Act and the parallel Environmental Information Regulations.

The afternoon session focuses on key decisions by the Information Commissioner and Information Tribunal.

Details on how to book a place will be available on the Campaign’s website soon or email [email protected] to be kept informed.

Culture, media and sport secretary Ben Bradshaw will visit the Newspaper Society next month to meet publishers and editors to discuss the current challenges facing the industry.

It will also offer the NS the chance to discuss the Digital Britain report and continues discussions with Mr Bradshaw’s predecessor Andy Burnham.

An award for new magazine journalists is now open for entries.

Run by the Periodical Publishers Association, there are eight separate categories along with the overall prize of New Journalist of the Year.

Deadline for entries is 18 September and the award ceremony will be held in London on 20 November. For details visit the awards website.

Watford Observer reporter Neil Skinner is doing the Moor Park 10K on 27 September in aid of a local Macmillan cancer centre.

He is hoping to raise £500 for the unit at Mount Vernon Hospital, in the Northwood area of Watford. To sponsor him visit his online fundraising page.