The Scottish Newspaper Publishers Association, which represents weekly newspapers, has elected Ernest Petrie as president.
Petrie is chairman of Forth Independent Newspapers, publisher of the Alloa-based Wee County News.
He was previously group managing director of Regional Independent Newspapers when that company was sold to Johnston Press in 2002.
Petrie said: “I will do my utmost to promote the interests of weekly newspapers in Scotland. It is encouraging that in contrast to other printed media, circulation of approximately half of SNPA titles edged upwards, according to the latest ABC figures.”
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