The incoming chairman of Ofcom has pledged to look into the problems facing local newspapers at a meeting with MPs.

Collette Bowe was questioned by the media and business select committees yesterday as to how she would discharge her role when she takes over from Lord Currie in March.

She said: “Our powers in the sector of newspapers are limited. Our remit is primarily about the broadcasting side but it would be foolish of us to think about that in a silo without thinking about local papers as well.

“We are looking at the markets for the delivery of local news and in particular it would be extremely foolish of us to ignore the position of local newspapers.”

Martyn Hocking is the new editor of consumer magazine Which? He has been acting up in the role since the departure of ex-regional press editor Neil Fowler in October.

Neil, formerly editor of he Lincolnshire Echo and Derby Evening Telegraph among other, said he was leaving to enjoy a “career break”.

Muslim lifestyle magazine Emel has hired former regional press commercial manager Justin Mafham as its first publishing director.

Mafham has held a number of positions in a media career that has spanned more than 20 years, including classified advertising director at Express Newspapers, publisher at Newsquest and commercial director at Northcliffe.

The third Creative East Awards are now open for entries. The scheme is aimed at individuals and companies working in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex.

Among the 15 categories are prizes for exclusive story, radio programme, factual publication, commercial photography, broadcast production and web design/innovation.

Among last year’s winners was Jon Austin, investigations reporters with Basildon daily the Echo, for his expose about links between a community of travellers and a property empire.

The closing date for entries is 16 February – for more information and to enter visit the awards website.

A new Canadian website entitled ‘Traditional Publishing, Rest in Peace’ is documenting media job losses on a worldwide scale.

Its homepage says: “This site is a collection of headlines from around the web, documenting the sad decline of traditional publishing.

“We love traditional media. Nothing will ever rival our enjoyment of books, newspapers, magazines, radio and even (sometimes) television. Regardless, this seems to be the way of the world, and so we offer this site as an ephemeral chronicle of traditional media’s decline.”