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Echo reporter scoops brace of awards

Dorset Echo reporter Miriam Phillips has been crowned her county’s top young journalist for the second year running.

Miriam picked up Jane Hayward Memorial Trophy in the annual Hammond/Whiteley Awards, organised by the Bournemouth and Dorset Branch of the National Union of Journalists.

The awards recognise excellence in local journalism and help to promote high standards within the industry. They were presented this year in front of an invited audience at Bournemouth University.

Martyn Benn, branch chairman and chair of the judging panel, praised Miriam for taking the trouble to get three great follow-ups to what would have been fairly ordinary stories.

Journalists from Newsquest sister title the Daily Echo, in Bournemouth, picked-up two awards: reporter of the year went to Melanie Vass while Richard Crease was crowned photographer of the year.

The judges’ award, which was introduced to honour all-round excellence, was claimed by local journalist and author Neil Glass for his book ‘Squandered’, which outlines claims the Government is wasting over one trillion pounds of taxpayers’ money.

The presentations were followed by a public debate on the future of regional journalism with panellists including Daily Echo deputy editor Ed Perkins, BBC South’s head of regional programmes Mike Hapgood and deputy general secretary of the NUJ Michelle Stanistreet.

The Hammond/Whiteley Awards were established 26 years ago in memory of two Daily Echo journalists, John Hammond and Carl Whiteley, who died suddenly within five days of each other in 1982.

  • (L to R) Neil Glass, Melanie Vass, Martyn Benn, Miriam Phillips and Richard Crease