09/01/2008

A free newspaper founded almost as an act of defiance has appointed a new editor.

Angus Begg has been promoted to editor of the award-winning Aberdeen Independent, taking over from Derek Pyper, who has retired.

Begg has overseen the weekly paper’s subbing operation since 1999.

Meanwhile, Carol-Ann Mackenzie is joining the paper's editorial team of Keith Lobban and John Sorrie as a trainee reporter/sub-editor.

Launched in 1996, with a distribution of around 70,000, has, for competition, the Press and Journal, the Evening Express, and the Aberdeen Citizen free newspaper.

But it was the only title held on to when owner, Keith Barwell - now better known as the owner and chair of Northampton Rugby Club - sold his then UK free newspaper empire to the Thomson Corporation for £20 million.

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