A regional journalist who specialises in covering his patch’s LGBT+ community has called for the press to become a “truly inclusive workforce”.

Liverpool Echo reporter Oliver Adams, who describes himself as openly queer, has made the plea amid what he has called “justified scepticism and cynicism” of the media by the LGBT+ community.

Oliver, pictured, joined the Echo in August as part of the Facebook-funded Community News Project, which has employed new journalists in regional newsrooms to help cover underrepresented communities across the country.

His call for further inclusivity in the industry came in a piece for the National Council for the Training of Journalists, which administers the project, to mark Journalism Matters week.

Oliver wrote: “As an openly queer man, my relationship with the media is in constant flux.

“Throughout history, my community has been grossly misrepresented by the press. Newspaper coverage of the HIV and AIDS pandemic vilified the LGBT+ community and caused further rifts between the media and queer people.

“Decades later, the repercussions of this portrayal cast a dark shadow over my community, and history repeats itself as some press attempts to vilify the transgender and gender-non-conforming community.

“Naturally, I entered my career in journalism with a level of scepticism.”

He went on to highltight stories he has covered since joining the Echo, including that of a gay asylum seeker who has been denied British citizenship five times.

Oliver added: “Reflecting upon the ghastly historic coverage of my community, one thing rings true: words have power. And by proxy, the press has the power to influence public opinion.

“As a journalist, I consider it my duty to play my role in the drive for positive social change.

“The news landscape is far from perfect. The industry continues to get things wrong, leading to justified scepticism and cynicism.

“But with the correct support and positive influences, both internal and external, I am hopeful the press will strive to become a truly inclusive workforce.”