STV has appointed David Milne as executive editor of its growing network of local news and information websites, STV Local.

Milne was previously group digital editor with the Herald and Times group, where he oversaw the launch of heraldscotland.com. Prior to this, he was deputy editor of the Sunday Herald and had worked for the title as assistant news editor and news editor.

In his new role, he will be responsible for the development of STV Local's existing network of more than 200 sites launched in November 2009 and its future plans for more "hyperlocal" sites featuring user-generated content.

Yesterday the Scottish broadcaster announced plans for its first "hyperlocal" pilot site, which will go live in September, and said further sites will be launched in the second half of 2010 and 2011. The first site will be for North Lanarkshire, an STV spokeswoman told Journalism.co.uk today.

In May the broadcaster began a recruitment drive to find new network editors for the venture and an unspecified number of community editors to work from home to edit and provide content for individual sites.

The company says it wants to partner with other local content providers and work with community organisations in producing the websites.

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