An independent publisher has tasked a new journalist to engage with religious and ethnic minority groups across the region it serves.

James Vukmirovic, left, will be taking on the role for Wolverhampton daily the Express & Star under the Facebook-funded community news project.

The scheme, which is being administered by the National Council for the Training of Journalists, will see more than 80 journalists recruited across the country to cover communities currently seen as being under-represented in the regional press.

James, the first of three community journalist appointments being made by Express & Star publisher the Midland News Association, will be joined in the next few weeks by Harriet Evans and Charlotte Bentley.

Harriet will be tasked with increasing the number of stories relating to young people in the Express & Star circulation area while Charlotte will work as a reporter at the Shropshire Star, concentrating on increasing engagement with rural communities on the newspaper’s patch.

Martin Wright, editor-in-chief of the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, said: “This is an exciting partnership and we are delighted to welcome James on board.

“The community news project aims to drive up coverage of individuals and groups who may not get the exposure they deserve.

“We are looking forward to James, Harriet and Charlotte bringing in stories that reflect important issues in our region but also highlight some of the fantastic people that live here.”