Dewsbury Reporter journalist Joanne Mead is setting her sights on America after winning work experience in the States at the Yorkshire Press Awards.

As Young Journalist of the Year the 24-year-old scooped a week's work experience on the San Diego Tribune in California.

Jo, (pictured), passed her National Certificate exams in spring this year and has now been at the Reporter for two-and-a-half years.

Her work that impressed the judges included a story about a boy tied to a tree by a girl, the story of a 20-year-old leukaemia sufferer who died shortly after being told a transplant had been booked, and coverage of a key murder trial.

She said: "I was delighted to win the award but thanks must go to my colleagues at the Reporter who have given me excellent guidance during the first part of my career.

“The Tribune is a morning paper but I’m going to be working on their ‘newsbreaking’ team which writes for their website.”

Joanne will make the trip next year.

Her deputy group editor, Margaret Watson, was full of praise for the young winner and said that Joanne was a “bright and intelligent journalist” who cared about the community she worked in.

"It was very well deserved – she has worked very hard," she added.