Judy Adamson, a journalist with 20 years experience in the newspaper industry, has been appointed as editor of Southern Cross.

Mrs Adamson has been working for Anglican Media in Sydney over the past 18 months as a senior journalist.

She previously spent more than 20 years as a writer and editor for The Sydney Morning Herald.

Her experience covers feature writing, reporting and editing, as well as work on news and newspaper supplements.

The CEO of Anglican Media, Russell Powell, said “We’re blessed to have a writer of Judy’s calibre who is 100 per cent committed to ministry in the Diocese and to using her gifts for the encouragement of God’s people”.

“She’s had a great impact since her work started appearing in Southern Cross and I’m looking forward to what she’ll be able to do as editor.”

Mrs Adamson is involved in the ministry of St John’s Anglican Church, Maroubra.

She takes over from Jeremy Halcrow, who is moving to Canberra to work as director of communications and strategic partnerships for Anglicare, as well media advisor for the Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Stuart Robinson.

The first edition of Southern Cross for 2011 will be in churches in the first week of February.

The December edition of 2010 included the Connect magazine, which is designed for distribution to visitors at Christmas and New Year services.

An extra 20,000 copies of Connect were printed to meet demand from churches.