Industry bigwigs are gathering in the Midlands later this month for the Oxford Media Convention.

Key decision-makers working across media, academia, regulatory bodies and government will be discussing the future of the media industry.

Among the speakers lined up to take part are Trinity Mirror chief executive Sly Bailey, former Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan and Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger.

It takes place on 21 January at the University of Oxford – for more details and to register visit guardian.co.uk.

Arthur Porter, publisher of Crain’s Manchester Business, has left the company.

A brief story posted on the title’s website says that Arthur took the decision to leave so he could “spend more time with his family and pursue other interests”.

Mr Porter has been Crain’s publisher for the last two years. Kathryn Toledano has been promoted from advertising director to associate publisher.

The Northern Echo is launching a new set of reader awards as a result of one woman’s heroic efforts to get to work despite the bad weather.

A restaurant supervisor walked for four hours to reach her place of work in Durham City, 15 miles from her home.

She was crowned the inaugural winner of the daily’s new ‘Going the Extra Mile’ award, to be given to outstanding employees across its patch.

The award and £100 will be handed out every month during 2010 with the employee of the year getting £300.

Martin Reid-Foster, former industrial correspondent with The Scotsman, has died aged 82.

He worked for the title for five years during the 1950s and went on to be a prominent member of Scotland’s PR industry.

Martin was heavily involved in managing the public relations surrounding major industrial developments including the closure of shipyards on the River Clyde.

Faringdon Newspapers Ltd, part of the Tindle group, has won the first Faringdon Community Award which was organised by the local town council.

Faringdon is one of the smallest newspapers in the Tindle Group producing the monthly paid newspaper Faringdon Folly and several other listings titles for the area including Faringdon, Wantage, Fairford and Lechlade on the Oxfordshire/Gloucestershire border.

General manager Jackie Stayt said: “It is nice to know that our papers are a valuable source of information to all our readers and a vital link to the community of Faringdon and the surrounding villages.”