A legendary editor’s widow has highlighted his regional press background after launching a new journalism fund in his memory.

Tina Brown has spoken of the pride Sir Harold Evans felt at his work at the Northern Echo as Reuters and Durham University team up to launch the Sir Harry Evans Memorial Fund.

The fund, which has already received more than $5M in pledges will establish a fellowship in investigative journalism and an annual media forum.

Sir Harry, who died last year aged 92, edited Durham University’s student newspaper The Palatinate and took his first professional editorship at the Echo in the 1960s.

The fund’s launch featured on the Echo’s front page on Tuesday

He later went on to edit the Sunday Times before moving to New York, where he became president and publisher of Random House.

Speaking to the Darlington-based daily, where Sir Harry’s campaigning successes included getting the cervical smear test introduced free on the NHS and forcing the chemical industry to clean up pollutants on Teesside, Tina said: “Harry was a voracious truth-teller and champion of courageous journalism in every form.

“The thought that we are doing something in his legacy to make sure Harrys of the future – whatever and wherever their gender, background, or means – are nurtured into the profession is something which I know would have moved him greatly.”

She added: “Harry was a man of the North-East, he acquired his reserves of knowledge and critical thinking at Durham and he was incredibly proud of his work with the Northern Echo.

“He was immensely proud of and maintained his links to Durham and the North-East so it was essential that was part of this initiative.

“Journalism matters and I know just how excited Harry would be about the possibilities here.”

The winning applicant for the fellowship will get the opportunity to undertake a piece of investigative reporting from the Reuters newsroom, mentored by top Reuters editors and supported by academic links at Durham University.

The fund will welcome applicants from all backgrounds who can tell stories from diverse perspectives and from around the world.

The fellow will be appointed annually, following a competitive award process, and the first fellow will join Reuters in 2022.

The fund will also enable the creation of an annual Forum for leading figures across media broadcasting and investigative journalism at Durham Castle, home to University College, Sir Harry’s college at Durham University.