A champagne-and-canapes launch party is being held this Friday for The Birmingham Press.

The new weekly newspaper is the creation of Midlands newspaper entrepreneur Chris Bullivant.

It is expected to be part paid-for, part-free with around 25,000 copies distributed to homes and businesses across the Second City.

The party is being held at The Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Regional journalists have drawn a blank in the shorlist of nominations for the annual Orwell Prize for Political Journalism.

The shortlisted candidates include two Guardian journalists, Paul Lewis and Amelia Gentleman, along with John Arlidge of the Sunday Times, Peter Hitchens of Mail on Sunday, Anthony Loyd of The Times, Hamish McRae of The Independent, and the BBC’s David Reynolds.

Gloucestershire Echo editor Kevan Blackadder has launched a new blog to give an insight into life on the Northcliffe daily newspaper.

His musings can be read at kevanblackadder.wordpress.com.

TV presenter Carol Vorderman and Lt Gen Sir John Kiszely, national president of The Royal British Legion, are the latest to sign up for Local Newspaper Week.

The duo have each written an article explaining why the local press is important to them for the Newspaper Society’s annual event which runs from 10 to 16 May.

Ms Voderman’s article will explain why local newspapers have been important to her TV career while Sir John’s will highlight the importance of local newspapers in rallying community support for soldiers.

More details can be found at newspapersoc.org.uk.

A journalism student from Formby impressed in the fashion stakes at the recent Grand National weekend by being scooping the Style 2010 competition.

Sophie Fairclough, daughter of former Liverpool FC striker David, picked up her prize from another famous Scouse fashion icon – Coleen Rooney.

The Liverpool John Moores student won a new car, ten-day holiday in Barbados, a photoshoot, £200 of shopping vouchers and a goody bag, reports the Formby Times.