Obituary - Keith Parker

03 August 2010

A respected Midlands newspaper editor and a former chairman of judges of the Midlands Media Awards has died.

Keith Parker, former editor of the 'Express and Star', died at the weekend after losing his three year battle with cancer. He was 69.

Keith was chairman of the judging panel of the awards in 2009, a job he was delighted to accept. He said at the time: “The Midlands has the finest newspapers and media outlets of any region and as judges we realise we are going to have a tough task ahead of us. 

“This year has been especially difficult for everyone because of the recession but journalists throughout the Midlands have responded magnificently."

Keith followed his 18 years editorship of the Express and Star by becoming managing director of the Wolverhampton-based newspaper group, until his retirement in 2005.

He was a former president of the Guild of Newspaper Editors, past chairman of the Newspaper Qualifications Council and a former member of the Press Complaints Commission and of the Data Protection Tribunal.

In 1993 he became an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to journalism.

John Lamb, chairman of Birmingham Press Club, said: “It was quite an honour for us to have someone as respected as Keith as chairman of the judges in 2009. I am extremely sorry to hear of his death."