THE boss of the Daily Echo’s parent company swapped the boardroom for a mortarboard yesterday as he picked up an honorary degree from Southampton Solent University.

Stewart Dunn, pictured, the managing director of Newsquest Hampshire, was made a Doctor of Media in recognition of his contribution to the media industry, at a ceremony at Southampton Guildhall.

He started in newspaper publishing and printing as a management trainee with United Newspapers in northern England before helping launch a commercial radio station in Leeds, and then moving to the Daily Echo, where he helped plan the £35m move from Above Bar to Newspaper House in Redbridge.

Stewart said: “The regional news industry is very important and I am proud of the work that the Daily Echo and Solent University have done to encourage this industry and develop local graduate job opportunities.”