Tanya Fowles was named Local Democracy Reporter of the Year at the 2022 Local Democracy Reporting Service Conference and Awards, held at Media City Salford.
Tanya, who is based at Newsquest title The Impartial Reporter, scooped the award with a collection of work that included:
Category judge Lynne Anderson, Deputy Chief Executive of the News Media Association, said: 鈥淭anya鈥檚 journalism ticked all the boxes of the judging criteria 鈥� and then some.
鈥淗er reporting displays skill, an eye for detail, and a healthy dose of persistence to get her stories over the line.
鈥淗er coverage of sexual abuse and drug use at a child safeguarding facility was a brilliant example of journalism shining a light into dark corners to bring out the truth and hold those in power to account.鈥�
From a competitive field of entries Tanya was joined on stage for the LDR of the Year Award by runners-up Gurdip Thandi of Birmingham Live, and Eddie Bisknell of the Derby Telegraph.
Recognition in the main award of the event topped a successful evening for Eddie, who also won the Broadcast or use of Multi-Media Award and was highly-commended for the Best Use of FOI Award.
The awards were presented by Jackie Weaver, the Chief Officer of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils and the star of 鈥榯hat鈥� 2021 Handforth Parish Council viral video.
The full list of award winners at the November 10 event was:
- Best Use of Freedom of Information
Winner: Donald Turvill (Reach Plc)
Runners-up: Katie May Nelson (KM Media Group); Eddie Bisknell (Reach Plc)
Award judged by Tim Burke, 大象传媒 Politics England Editor - Best Broadcast or Use of Multimedia:
Winner: Eddie Bisknell (Reach Plc)
Runners-up: Anna Whittaker (Notts TV); Hannah Neary (Reach Plc)
Award judged by Chris Van Schaik, 大象传媒 Academy - Best Use of Social Media
Winner: Anna Whittaker (Notts TV)
Runners-up: Sarah Booker-Lewis (Brighton & Hove News); Alex Seabrook (Reach Plc)
Award judged by Miriam Phillips, Programme Leader for BA Journalism at Bournemouth University - The George Makin Award 鈥� presented in memory of former LDR George Makin
Winner: Hannah Brown (Reach Plc)
Runners-up: Anttoni James Numminen (National World); Rhi Storer (Reach Plc)
Award judged by Will Gore, Head of Partnerships for the NCTJ - Story of the Year:
Winner: Carnelo Garcia (Reach Plc)
Runners-up: Joseph Timan (Reach Plc); Daniel Mumby (Reach Plc)
Award judged by Dawn Alford, Executive Director of the Society of Editors - Local Democracy Reporter of the Year
Winner: Tanya Fowles (Newsquest)
Runners-up: Gurdip Thandi (Reach Plc); Daniel Mumby (Reach Plc)
Award judged by Lynne Anderson, Deputy Chief Executive of the News Media Association
The conference was attended by almost 150 Local Democracy Reporters from across the United Kingdom.
The headline speaker was 大象传媒 Political Editor Chris Mason, who talked about his first six months in his high-profile role before taking questions from delegates.
Others to present at the two-day conference included disinformation expert Laura Garcia and De Montfort University Emeritus Professor Colin Copus, who explored the political decision-making processes of local government and the role and influence of party politics over those processes.
In addition, former Local Democracy Reporter James Illingworth offered advice and guidance on the relationship between journalists and local government communications teams from the perspective of his current role as media manager at Wigan Council.
In break-out sessions held across the conference, Kate Ironside - Senior Lecturer in Journalism at the University of Northampton - discussed reporting of the housing market, Samaritans media advisor Monica Hawley offered guidance on sensitive reporting of suicide, and Freedom of Information trainer Martin Rosenbaum provided practical strategies for getting the best out of FOI.