There hasn't been a lot of good news for the newspaper industry in recent years - but the announcement of Rupert Murdoch's Sun on Sunday might be the start of turnaround.

Police inquiries pending, of course.

Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors (SoE), said the arrival of The Sun on Sunday showed the resilience of the industry in the face of a tough economic climate and new commercial challenges.

Though 2011 was a "year of turmoil", he said the press was "pretty lean and fit" and could "fight back".

"I think it does face a lot of challenges but it remains the strongest press in the world," he added.

"OK, circulations have been going down in many cases. But also in many instances, readership is going up because newspapers, journalists and editors are learning to make the news available on so many different platforms, and not just in print."

Insisting the industry was "not as poorly as many people think", he added: "People's appetite for news and information is growing, not dying; therefore, there are opportunities."

And he said the decision to launch The Sun on Sunday, which will replace the now-defunct News of the World, would have been very carefully thought through, "right to the last paper clip".

"This is a sign that the newspaper industry can be resilient, based on its huge store of talent and expertise," he said.

"Whatever people's views about Rupert Murdoch... he's been highly successful.

"Probably the most successful newspaper man in history.

"He doesn't often get things wrong and he doesn't make decisions lightly."

The arrival of the new Sunday tabloid, which is expected soon on news stands, would be "eagerly" welcomed across the board, he said - by journalists and readers alike.