Last week Behind Local News published the Women in Local News Awards and JPIMedia’s editorial wonder women dominated the list.
The winners represent the brightest and best women working in local journalism who have gone above and beyond reporting, leading and teaching in their communities despite the restrictions of lockdowns.
Shona Elliott from the Edinburgh Evening News won Apprentice of the Year for three excellent exclusive stories focussing on racism at an Edinburgh school, a fake company illegally subletting rented properties and the story of a group of newly arrived Syrian tailors using their skills to create personal protective equipment for local GP surgeries. Well researched and presented on important topics at a local and national level.
Sarah Wilson, a Senior digital journalist in the JPIMedia central team was awarded Digital Journalist of the Year. The judges were impressed by the brilliant use of digital tools to increase reader engagement and share stories.
Laura Collins, Yorkshire Evening Post, was named Editor of the Year for the inspirational work so far including the Call It Out campaign in response to the online abuse the team received online. Not only is she the the youngest female editor in the history of the YEP, Laura is seen to have made the biggest impact for the title she joined 14 years ago as a trainee.
Georgina Morris, Yorkshire Post, won Unsung Hero of the Year for going above and beyond her job by keeping her colleague’s spirits up during lockdown, sorting out virtual social events and lending an ear to anyone who needed to talk.
The Specialist Reporter and Outstanding Journalist of the Year awards both went to Lucy Leeson for her time as a Crime reporter at the Yorkshire Post. While working for the Yorkshire Post, Lucy (now with the Hull Daily Mail) covered not only breaking news incidents, but also in-depth coverage of topics such as gun crime, sexual assaults, child exploitation and County Lines drug dealing.