A former regional editorial boss has been made a fellow of the Society of Editors after stepping down from its board.

The SoE has bestowed the honour upon Alison Gow after her departure from Reach plc.

Alison, pictured, served as a director of the SoE from 2014 until earlier this year, when she departed to coincide with her decision to leave Reach.

She is a former editor of Wales on Sunday and the North Wales Daily Post who spent 19 years with Reach and its forerunners, and was the group’s interim audience and content director for video and audio at the time she left.

The announcement of her departure from the company came in March, the day before widespread cuts were announced by the publisher.

Alison, who also served as SoE president from 2019 to 2021, said: “I’m deeply honoured by this accolade – it was a lovely and very unexpected surprise.

“It has been a privilege to be involved with the Society’s work over the years. The SoE plays a vital role in upholding high editorial standards, ensuring press freedom and the public’s right to know and championing the importance of news media to democracy – tenets that are more important than ever today.

“While there have been challenges, it’s great to see the Society now flourishing, membership growing, and the Media Freedom Awards proving ever more popular.

“I am excited to see what the Society achieves in the coming years and I wish the board, the wonderful policy and admin team, and executive director, Dawn [Alford], the very best for the future.”

Dawn added: “Over many years, Alison’s unwavering support for the work of the SoE has meant that she is well-known and widely respected across the industry not least because of her tireless championing on behalf of young journalists and those working in the regions.

“Her leadership as president of the Society during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic saw her oversee a virtual conference which proved to be one of the most successful events the Society has held with important debates around online abuse, diversity and inclusion, and mental health issues and she has diligently supported our parliamentary and legal work around the Online Safety Bill and the safety of journalists more widely.

“It has been a privilege to work alongside her and this fellowship recognises the exceptional and vital contribution that she has made both to our work, and press freedom more generally, over many years.”