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TV award for journalist turned Corrie writer

Former Oldham Evening Chronicle journalist John Stevenson has picked up a top award for his TV scripts. John, 71, won the Royal Television Society’s North-West Judge’s Award for his career as a scriptwriter which has spanned more than 40 years.

John, who was born in Manchester, wrote scripts for Coronation Street between 1976 and 2006. He worked at the Chronicle from 1958 to 1964, where he wrote the popular Fifth Column under the name Richard Steele, before joining the Daily Mail, in Manchester.


BBC political editor Nick Robinson will be among the readers at a charity Christmas carol concert in London next month. The service, in aid of the Journalists’ Charity, starts at 6.30pm on December 15 at St Brides Church, Fleet Street.

All proceeds will go to the charity which helps journalists and their families who have fallen on hard times. Journalists’ Charity Christmas cards will be on sale at the service.

Ticket price is a minimum donation of £10 and includes mince pies, wine and entertainment. For information and to reserve a ticket e-mail [email protected] or call 0207 618 9100.


EDP24 – the website of Archant’s Eastern Daily Press – has launched a new local business directory. The directory’s search engine also plots results on a Google map.

Similar services using geotagging technology, which makes search results available by location, are already offered on Archant sites Jobs24 and Homes24. The directory can viewed at edp24.co.uk.


The Sunderland Echo’s Christmas Toy Appeal has been praised in Parliament.

Fraser Kemp, Labour MP for Houghton & Washington East, tabled an early day motion congratulating the Johnston Press daily for gathering toys for Wearside Women in Need and Sunderland Social Services.
The annual appeal collects toys, toiletries and gifts for struggling families and single mothers across the city.


Ipswich daily the Evening Star is hoping to reunite old friends online in the run-up to Christmas. Its ‘Finding Friends’ service has successfully reunited old school friends who have lost touch and currently features an appeal from a woman who left the Suffolk town for America in 1960.