An award-winning journalist has left a regional daily to step back from the “very intense” situation of reporting on the coronavirus pandemic.

Robyn Vinter has announced her departure from the Yorkshire Post to go freelance, saying the pace of the last year has been “very difficult” for her.

Robyn, pictured, won the Local Hero Award for Regional Digital Journalism at the Digital Publishing Awards 2020 and dedicated the prize to lonely regional press colleagues during what she termed an “extremely hard time for local reporters”.

In January, HTFP reported how Liverpool Echo political editor Liam Thorp had opened up on how he “broke down” due to covering the current coronavirus crisis – prompting other journalists to share similar experiences.

Announcing her departure on Twitter last month, Robyn said: “I handed in my notice last month to focus on freelance work and take a step back from very intense pandemic reporting.

“I’ve got some work lined up but would be grateful for any contacts/commissions/shifts.”

Leeds-based Robyn also runs The Overtake, an independent news and opinion website aimed at millennials.

She added: “I will miss my colleagues at the YP so much. They are such a phenomenal bunch of reporters and I’ve learnt so much from them.

“It’s quite a wrench to leave but the pace of the last year has been very difficult and between that and The Overtake, I’ve had lots of sleepless nights.”

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