Former ITN chief joins Scottish IFNC bid

Former ITN chief executive Mark Wood has been appointed as chairman of a consortium bid for the government's ITV news replacement scheme in Scotland.

Known as the Scottish News Consortium, the group includes newspaper publishers DC Thomson, Herald & Times Group and Johnston Press, along with production firm Tinopolis.

Wood will lead the group's bid for around £7m of public cash under the independently funded news consortium scheme, which aims to shore up regional news services and provide a vibrant alternative to the BBC's output.

The eventually selected IFNC participants will provide ITV local news services in their region, along with a range of other news sources, including radio and online.

Wood acted as ITN chief executive from June 2003 to March 2009 after joining from Reuters, where he was editor-in-chief from 1989 to 2000.

"Mark brings experience at the most senior levels in British television news and a sophisticated understanding of the multi-platform world," said a Scottish News Consortium spokesman.

"We welcome him to this Scottish partnership which plans to bring an unsurpassable range and depth of news and debate to the people of Scotland."

However, the consortium will face stiff competition from STV, the ITV licence holder in Scotland, which has teamed up with ITN and radio group Bauer Media to bid for the trial.

After an independent panel has assessed all the bidders, culture secretary Ben Bradshaw will confirm the successful parties on March 25. IFNC trials will then go ahead in Scotland, Wales and England's Tyne Tees and Border in the spring.