A local democracy reporter has hailed the BBC-funded scheme as “the last bastion of true, impartial and traditional local journalism” after leaving for a new role with the university where he trained.

Andrew Topping, who has covered Nottinghamshire for Notts TV under the programme, is taking up a position heading up the undergraduate media law modules at Nottingham Trent University.

The move marks a return for Andrew, pictured, to the university where he achieved his NCTJ gold diploma between 2017 and 2018 as a postgraduate student.

He has spent two years in his current role and previously worked for the Mansfield Chad and Nottingham Post. His current job is being advertised on HTFP and can be found here.

Andrew, who is due to start his new role in October, told HTFP: “I’m incredibly excited to take this next step in my career. Education is something I have always been very passionate about and I’m delighted to be rejoining such a well-respected university.

“I learnt so much during my own time studying at the university’s Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism, which opened doors for me to enjoy a varied five years of industry experience.

“This included studying both media law and public affairs, which are bedrock modules for students learning how to think and act like a journalist.

“I can’t wait to go back and pass on my knowledge and to engage the next generation of journalists.”

He added: “It’s been an absolute privilege working as an LDR for the past two years. As somebody who is passionate about local politics, the LDRS was the ideal place for me to truly come into my own.

“It has given me the freedom to develop a broad range of contacts and cover a huge array of public interest stories. I’ve held local authorities to account, broken exclusive investigations and scrutinised my councils at a time of significant pressure and interest from residents about where their council tax goes.

“I wouldn’t have had the freedom to do this without the LDRS, controlled by the brilliant team at Notts TV.

“In my view, the LDRS is the last bastion of true, impartial and traditional local journalism and should be protected at all costs.”