Southend Echo crime reporter Michael Clarke has been named Shepherd Neame Essex Journalist of the Year.

The journalist received his award at a presentation lunch, where he was praised for his coverage of the Sally Geeson murder case.

Judges said his work had demonstrated “the skills of a reporter who nurtured his contacts to really get under the skin of what became a major national story”.

Paul Peterson, a senior reporter on the Yellow Advertiser, won the Essex Campaign of the Year title for the paper’s successful Access for All campaign, which highlighted problem areas for disabled people and forced several changes to shops and public buildings throughout the county.

Other major newspaper winners were Ryan Goad, of the Thurrock Gazette, who was Young Journalist of the Year and East Anglian Daily Times photographer James Fletcher, who won the Discretionary Award for his outstanding pictures of poverty-stricken Bucharest youngsters.

As a result, there will be a photography category next year.

The judges were former East Anglian Daily Times journalist Anthony Clavane, who is now chief sports writer at the Sunday Mirror; Daily Mail writer Richard Kay, who began his career on the Essex County Standard; and Bill Rogers, managing editor BBC Radio News.

A summary of winners is below:

Essex Journalist of the Year

Winner: Michael Clarke, Southend Echo
Runner-up: James Hore, East Anglian Daily Times
Highly commended: Kate McGrath, Basildon Evening Echo
Highly commended: Jon Austin, Basildon Evening Echo

Discretionary Awards

Winner for outstanding feature photography: James Fletcher, East Anglian Daily Times
Highly commended, for his weekly column: Tom King, Evening Echo

Shepherd Neame Campaign of the Year

Winner: Paul Peterson, Yellow Advertiser
Highly commended: Anita Patterson, Castlepoint Evening Echo
Highly commended: Joe McGrath, Yellow Advertiser

Bishops Finger Broadcast Journalist of the Year

Winner: Amelia Reynolds, BBC TV Look East

Essex Young Journalist of the Year

Winner: Ryan Goad, Thurrock Gazette
Highly commended: Victoria Rolison, Brentwood Weekly News

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