A former regional daily picture editor whose role disappeared in a restructure earlier this year has become the latest recruit to a PR agency made up mainly of ex-journalists.

Paul Collins left the Southern Daily Echo after 21 years when the posts of picture editor and deputy picture editor were replaced by a user generated content editor.

He has now become the latest ex-regional press journalist to join Deep South Media, the Bournemouth-based PR agency which mainly comprises former Newsquest staff.

Paul, pictured left, will join the company in the new role of Head of Visual Media and will be responsible for developing a new revenue-earning division for DSM encompassing video and photography.

Before joining the Southern Daily Echo in 1994, Paul was also a senior photographer at the Bournemouth Daily Echo where his editor was Gareth Weekes.

Gareth went on to found Deep South Media after leaving the editor’s role.

As picture editor of Newsquest Hampshire since 1999, Paul he has been responsible for the photographic content of the Daily Echo, Hampshire Chronicle, Basingstoke Gazette, Romsey Advertiser, Andover Advertiser, maintaining and developing a picture database containing over 1m images.

Under his leadership the Southampton centre sold more images than any other centre in Newsquest nationwide with his pictures being the biggest sellers.

Paul, who will start his new role on 1 July, has also worked for the Runcorn and Widnes World, Messenger Newspapers in South Manchester and the Cheshire and Chester Observer.

DSM joint managing directors Andrew Diprose and Ron Wain said: “Apart from being a superb photographer with the video experience we’re seeking, we believe Paul has exactly the right mix of entrepreneurial and business skills to develop a profitable and successful new photographic and video division. In short, we think he’s a perfect fit for DSM.”