The Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) has appointed Marie Kinsey as its new chair.

Kinsey, who is director of postgraduate journalism at Sheffield University, is only the third BJTC chair in the organisation's 30-year history and was confirmed in the role at last week's annual general meeting of the industry body.

She succeeds Tom Beesley, who was chair for 23 years after a career working in regional radio and television news for the BBC.

Kinsey took up her post at Sheffield in 2001, having previously worked for the BBC and LBC covering business. She began her career at the Peterborough Evening Telegraph in the 1970s before moving into radio and TV work.

"Tom Beesley is a hard act to follow and the organisation will miss him. The world of journalism is changing rapidly and the BJTC intends to be at the forefront in ensuring the highest possible standards of training in all our partner institutions," she said.

Kinsey recently launched a data journalism project between students at the university and the Guardian ahead of this week's government spending review.

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