The Northern Region of the Society of Editors has a new chairman in the shape of Shields Gazette editor John Szymanski.

John, who was elected at the branch’s recent AGM, takes over from Joy Yates, of the Hartlepool Mail.

Accepting the post – and a ceremonial miner’s lamp – Mr Szymanski said: “I am honoured to accept this position in what is a challenging time for the media.

“A free Press is essential to any democracy and I will strive to ensure the Society does its utmost to protect the freedom of all sectors of the media to report on behalf of the public.”

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee will hold its first oral evidence session in relation to its inquiry into press standards, privacy and libel tomorrow.

Among those speaking at the session in Parliament are media solicitor and HoldtheFrontPage columnist Tony Jaffa and chairman of the Media Lawyers Association Marcus Partington.

The session starts at 10.45am in the committee office and is open to the public.

Dan Matthams, from the Nottingham Evening Post, has been shortlisted in the annual Sports Journalists’ photography awards.

Dan is competing alongside photographers from Getty Images, AFP and the Press Association in the young sports photographer category.

There are five photography categories which will be presented alongside the sports journalism awards on 9 March at The Brewery, in London.

Journalists represent the UK’s least trustworthy profession according to a new survey.

The annual survey commissioned by the Royal College of Physicians sees doctors, for the 25th year running, as the nation’s most trusted professionals.

Teachers, professors and clergymen also ranked highly while government ministers, politicians and journalists score the lowest. Just 19pc of respondents felt that journalists told the truth.

There’s still time to enter the Wincott Foundation’s annual awards for financial writing and journalism. There are four prize categories including one for web-only publications.

All entries must show they’ve contributed to the wider understanding of economic, financial and business life.

The awards were launched in 1970 in memory of financial commentator Harold Wincott.

Entries must be received by 28 February – for more details visit the Wincott Foundation website.