The Newspaper Society is calling on editors to use their influence to help shape a new culture of openness under the Freedom of Information Act. The organisation is still disappointed that the law fell short of the “radical measure” it
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Teenager's pop interview – thanks to The News
A young reporter got her chance to interview her pop heroes A1 – thanks to the Portsmouth News. Sixteen-year-old Karen Rogers by-passed the fans queuing with scarves and banners and walked straight into a personal audience with the chart-toppers. Karen,
Long-lost half-brother isreal-life Bob the Builder
An advert in the Portsmouth News brought a long lost family together. Pat Edney was mapping out her family tree and when she started to uncover her mum’s side of the family, she found she had a half-brother. Pat placed
Website relaunch for The Newspaper Society
The Newspaper Society’s Internet gateway to the regional press has been re-launched after a complete redesign. The Society has launched its new-look site www.newspapersoc.org with a special online competition to win an Apple iBook computer. Head of communications Lynne Anderson
Promotion for newspaper legal expert
Santha Rasaiah, the Newspaper Society’s head of legal and regulatory affairs, has been promoted to the new position of head of political, editorial and regulatory affairs (PERA), with effect from 1 November. The Society’s director, David Newell, said: “Santha Rasaiah
Legal update for journalists
The Newspaper Society has organised its annual one-day editorial law seminar for Friday November 3. The society says the event will help editors and journalists become updated on a multitude of new laws and make sense of how and what
Car sharing in Carlisle
The News & Star in Carlisle has set up a Share a Car scheme for readers as part of its fuel crisis coverage. Readers having difficulty getting to work can ring a freephone number and speak to staff who will
Profits up for Johnston
Johnston Press has revealed a 36 per cent jump in profits in its half-year results announcement. The figure is strengthened by rising advertising revenues, which are continuing strongly into the second half of the financial year. The group, which publishes
Watchdog role for Elliott
Former regional newspaper editor Geoff Elliott has been appointed to the Broadcasting Standards Commission. Mr Elliott, (55) was editor and director of The News, in Portmsouth, from 1990 until last year when he was sacked after the paper was taken
Hot shot junior
A hot-shot reporter is making his mark in the press – at the tender age of 13. Daniel Kent is a regular contributor to the sports pages of the Sutton Coldfield Observer. Each week at least one, and usually more,
Shake-up in the top 20 regional press publishers
The largest 20 publishers now account for 84 per cent of all the regional press titles – and 95 per cent of weekly circulation. The figures compare with 78 per cent and 94 per cent at the start of this
Elliott bound for academia
Geoff Elliott admits he’ll be “very quickly learning about academe” when he takes on his latest challenge. “It’s not a world I know much about really,” admitted the the former editor of The News, Portsmouth, who has been appointed head
Newsroom howlers to make you shudder
We’ve all been there – asking that question that makes you want the ground to open up and swallow you. The following “office quotes” were supplied by Jeremy Condliffe, editor of the Congleton Chronicle series: “I used to work at
Not good enough yet
A Newspaper Society legal advisor says that proposed amendments to the Local Government Bill do not go far enough to ensure that local government is open government. The Government has bowed to pressure from the Society, MPs, and other freedom
Society adds its voice on communications reform
The Newspaper Society has submitted its response to the Communications White Paper, setting out its concerns over the regional press. Its comments to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and the Department of Trade and Industry, cover reform of
BT UK Regional Press and Broadcast Awards 2000
Business Journalist of the Year: Steve Brauner, North West Business Insider (now assistant editor, Daily Post) The runner-up was:Chris Starkie, Evening Post, Bristol The other nominations were:Simon Bain, The HeraldDavid Litterick, The News, PortsmouthJennifer Chapman, Cambridge Evening NewsMark Currie, Daily