Familiar face joins The Darras Index

A familiar face who has been chronicling the news and views of the Ponteland community for more than two decades has joined The Darras Index.

Chris Jennings launched Pont News & Views in 2005, editing 250 issues for Ponteland Town Council until a decision in June to end the contract and relaunch the monthly magazine as a quarterly publication.

Thousands of residents across the parish in Darras Hall, Ponteland and surrounding villages relied on Pont News for its monthly mix of local news, events listings, adverts and to hear the views of readers on a range of issues on the letters’ page.

As well as the editorial role, Chris was also responsible for generating tens of thousands of pounds each year in advertising revenue to help fund production costs. The new iteration of the magazine will no longer carry advertising.

Prior to launching PNV, Chris was a regional journalist, later becoming a local authority communications officer and then a senior manager at a further education college. He launched his business Cian creative pr in 2009, which serves a range of public and private sector clients.

He brings significant experience in newsgathering and community engagement, along with a strong network of local and regional contacts.

The Darras Index has grown a great deal since it first launched last year, expanding from a small local directory into a genuine hub for news and events across NE20. What started as a simple way to connect residents with local tradespeople has grown into a comprehensive community platform, bringing together local news and a jobs portal alongside the directory.

The next stage of our growth is building a trusted local services directory – a place where residents can reliably find the businesses who genuinely serve NE20. Chris’s arrival strengthens that mission, adding editorial depth, community insight and a familiar voice residents already trust.

Chris said: “Having served the people of Ponteland and Darras Hall for more than two decades, I am delighted to have the opportunity to continue to do so with The Darras Index.

“I was impressed by the team’s vision for a dedicated online facility which not only gives local businesses an excellent platform to promote their services but also offers a mix of news articles, features, an events calendar and surveys/polls to find out the key issues local residents want us to highlight.

“As it is online, we can share the latest news instantly and local businesses can join the directory directly through the website. From submitting events to reviewing local tradespersons, the engagement opportunities are extensive.”

• Have you got an event or news you want us to share? Would you like to promote your business? Contact info@darrasindex.co.uk.