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Court case probe wins national award for education writer

Kathie McInnes, of the Sentinel, has won a top prize at the Education Journalist of the Year awards, in a contest run by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Her award was for outstanding education reporting for regional/local journalists, for which she also took home £500 in prize money. She had written an investigative piece about the prosecution by Ofsted of two rogue child minders.

During the case only a proportion of the story emerged in court – and following their convictions, Kathie investigated the couple’s past and discovered that they had already been the subject of a number of complaints.

She went on to do a series of interviews with some of the parents who had aired their concerns as well as with the child minders themselves.

Kathie said: “I was very pleased and surprised to win this award. It was particularly nice to be recognised for an article relating to early years education and childcare.

“The bread and butter of an education reporter’s life is covering school stories, yet provision for the under-fives is just as important and as newsworthy.”

The judges praised her for:

  • “Very accessible reporting, translating statistics into readable copy.”
  • “Good use of human interest and case studies.”
  • “Clarity of writing ensures issues are clear to all readers.”
  • “Very competent journalism.”
  • “Refreshing, easily accessible coverage.”

    They added: “Excellently communicating complex issues in tight well-thought out paragraphs, the reporter uses first person quotes where appropriate, adding that important direct voice.

    “Neither is she shy of providing context (both regional and national) where necessary, to add depth and texture to the issues. This series shows real respect and regard for the subject and the reader.”

    The runner-up in the category was Ben Turner, now of the Liverpool Echo, but at the time writing for the Lancashire Telegraph.

    He penned a series of articles considering violence in the classroom, and attacks on teachers by pupils.

    The judges said he provided very competent coverage – especially since Ben had only been working in the sector for two years.

    Ben said: I am delighted to be acknowledged in this way.

    “What started out as a freedom of information request became a real topic of debate and uncovered a worrying degree of violence that teachers have to face on top of what is already a very demanding job.”

    The event, at the House of Commons, was the third awards to celebrating the best in education and skills reporting over the previous 12 months.

    Former Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Estelle Morris, gave a keynote speech during the evening, acknowledging the contribution education and skills journalists have made over the years. She spoke about the combination of education journalism at national and regional level, which together sparked national debate and made a valuable contribution to the democratic process.