John Szymanski, editor of the Shields Gazette in South Tyneside, has been elected chair of the Society of Editors’ northern region at their annual general meeting.
Accepting the post – and a ceremonial miners’ lamp – Szymanski said: “I am honoured to accept this position in what is a challenging time for the media.
“A free press is essential to any democracy and I will strive to ensure the society does its utmost to protect the freedom of all sectors of the media to report on behalf of the public.”
The branch, part of the national body, represents editors and other media professionals from Whitby, on the North Yorkshire coast, to Berwick, on the Scottish borders in Northumberland.
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