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Former daily deputy features chief to edit women’s magazine

Stuart JohnstoneA former regional daily journalist has been named as the new editor of a women’s magazine.

DC Thomson has appointed ex-Dundee Evening Telegraph deputy features editor Stuart Johnstone, left, as editor of My Weekly.

Stuart began his career as a news reporter with DC Thomson in 2000, and worked on the Evening Telegraph’s features department between 2004 and 2011.

For the last seven years he has served as production editor on several titles in the company’s magazine division.

He replaces Sally Hampton, who has edited My Weekly for 12 years and has now been promoted to consumer magazines publisher for Thomson.

Stuart said: “As My Weekly editor I am looking forward to leading this much-loved brand forward. Although this is a challenging time for print media, it is also one of great opportunity.

“It’s my aim to enable our talented team to be proactive in looking for new, exciting ways of continuing to give our readers a wonderful magazine, packed with all the great content they have come to expect over the years.”

Other recent moves in the UK regional press include the following:

* Sarah Freeman, the reigning Regional Press Awards feature writer of the year, is to leave the Yorkshire Post. Other changes at the flagship daily see Claire Wilde joining as crime correspondent from the Bradford Telegraph & Argus, while former news editor Hannah Start has also left.

* More local democracy reporters have been appointed as part of the BBC-funded scheme to ensure coverage of councils and public bodies. Laura Hill has joined the Newcastle-based Chronicle, Journal and Sunday Sun in the role while Matt Discombe, previously of The Citizen, Gloucester, will cover authorities in Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan for Wales Online.

* Martin Crowson, chief rugby correspondent and deputy sports editor at the Leicester Mercury, has left the paper after 17 years.

* The Belfast Telegraph has appointed Gareth Cross as a digital journalist. He previously worked as a freelance for Derry News.

* Alistair Houghton, previously city editor at the Liverpool Echo, has now been appointed to the role of executive business editor. Multimedia story editor Val Woan has left the newspaper.

* Joe Churcher, former deputy news editor at the Press & Journal, has been promoted to assistant editor, with his old role going to Mark Mackay. Joe is also a former chief political correspondent for the Press Association.

* Rory Sheehan has been promoted to chief reporter at Wrexham daily The Leader.

* Get Surrey reporter Joshua Smith has now been appinted as social media producer at the news website.

* Ellis Lane, previously a sports reporter at Gloucestershire Live, is now working on news for the website as senior digital reporter.

* Alex Ross has moved from York daily The Press where he was a senior reporter to sister title the Bradford Telegraph and Argus as investigative reporter.

* Kieran Davey as been appointed as head of digital at The News, Portsmouth.  He was previously social media editor at the daily title.

* The Southwark News has appointed Katherine Johnston as a reporter, covering the areas of Peckham, Walworth, Elephant & Castle and Southwark in South London.

* Josh Searle has moved from the Maldon & Burnham Standard where he was a trainee reporer to join the South Wales Guardian as a senior.

* Stephen Delahunty has been named as entertainment editor for Baylis Media, working across the Maidenhead Advertiser and Slough & Windsor Express.

* Josh Clarke has joined the Newwark Advertiser as a junior reporter after studying journalism at De Montfort University.

* Jonathon Taylor is leaving his role as a sports reporter at the Teesside Gazette at Easter after four years at the paper.

On the move yourself?  Let us know at [email protected] or via @journalism_news on Twitter.