What we have written about David Brookes

Mercury sets national news agenda

The Sunday Mercury is celebrating after setting the national news agenda for the second week in a row, following its exclusive interview with a gay couple who adopted three children. The Birmingham-based newspaper, which is owned by Trinity Mirror, published

'True wordsmith' Richard Williamson has died

Sunday Mercury chief feature writer Richard Williamson, one of the Midlands’ best-loved and most respected journalists, has died following a suspected heart attack. He was 56. For the past 35 years, Dick’s unique brand of journalism has been gracing the

Sunday's answer to national "threat"

The Sunday Mercury notched up a notable sales success on the day that the Daily Star Sunday launched, crushing claims that the new national’s arrival would have an adverse impact. Powered by an aggressive campaign featuring exclusive news stories, extra

Journalist still awaiting deportation

Amardeep Bassey, the Sunday Mercury journalist being held in Pakistan, is still waiting to be deported despite his release being rubber-stamped by the Interior Ministry in Islamabad. It had been hoped that Amardeep (pictured) would be released without charge by

Amardeep's "release expected by Tuesday"

Amardeep Bassey, the Sunday Mercury journalist held in Pakistan amid claims of spying, is expected to be released without charge by Tuesday. After reviewing a report of Amardeep’s case, based on his interrogation, the Home Secretary of the North West

Amardeep awaits decision

A Sunday Mercury journalist held by the authorities in Pakistan amid claims of espionage has been placed in a lower security facility. Amardeep Bassey had been held at the Joint Interrogation Centre in Peshawar after he was found not to

"Crucial day" for Midlands journalist

A judicial review hearing which could decide the fate of the Sunday Mercury journalist being held by the authorities in Pakistan will take place tomorrow. Amardeep Bassey (left) was detained in the border town of Torkham 12 days ago when

Jailed journalist makes contact from Pakistan

The Sunday Mercury journalist being held by the authorities in a jail in Pakistan has managed to send two messages to his editor. The notes, sent by email by a friend outside the prison, represent the first direct contact since

Midlands journalist held in Pakistan

A Sunday Mercury journalist is being held by the authorities in Pakistan. Amardeep Bassey, (29), the paper’s investigations editor, was arrested on Friday when he tried to return to Pakistan from Afghanistan. He had been reporting on the upheavals in

New faces and promotions at Sunday title

Andy Mallabone (39) has been appointed head of design on the Sunday Mercury, the Birmingham-based Trinity Mirror tabloid. He was previously on secondment from the Birmingham Evening Mail and had been heavily involved in the recent relaunch of the title.

Sunday Mercury to increase its East Midlands coverage

The Sunday Mercury is to expand its current East Midlands edition with the help of Don Hale. The paper’s existing coverage of Derby, Nottingham and Leicester mainly focuses on sport, and Hale has been brought on board to help pull

Another Big Brother Exclusive for Mercury re-launch

The Sunday Mercury’s new look is a hit with readers across the Midlands. Its main section was an 88-page read with a front page exclusive that Big Brother winner Craig Phillips’ best friend has been inside for drug use. Inside

Sunday Mercury to be "lighter and brighter"

A major re-launch of the Birmingham-based Sunday Mercury this weekend aims to make it “lighter and brighter”. The radical redesign, including a host of new features, comes just 10 weeks after editor David Brookes and deputy editor Paul Cole took

£10,000 reward to bring attacker to justice

The Sunday Mercury in Birmingham has joined forces with the family of a man who was paralysed in an attack to offer a £10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. David Davoren was almost killed by the assault in

Group rewards best of its regional talent

The best of Trinity Mirror’s regional talent has been recognising at the group’s annual in-house Editorial Awards. A dozen trophies were handed to titles from across the group, including the Birmingham Evening Mail, which was named Daily/Sunday Newspaper of the