SADDLEWORTH JOURNALISTS scooped two top prizes at the prestigious 02 North West Media Awards.
The Saddleworth Independent won a runners-up accolade in the Free Distribution of the Year category while Emily Burgin from Delph won the Emerging Talent award.
It is the fourth consecutive year the Independent has been recognised in the awards and their accolade was received by Ken Bennett, the Independent’s founder, publisher and first editor.
The Free Distribution Publication category was won by the Leigh Journal while theWirral Globe and Champion Newspapers were also named as runners-up.
Meanwhile Emily, 21, who is studying at Salford University and wants to pursue a career in television news, said it was “unbelievable” to win the Emerging Talent award.
Since covering the Saddleworth by-election in 2011 Emily has built up a variedportfolio – from football and fashion to interviewing a sex abuse victim – which she believes helped her clinch the award.
“I entered the competition thinking there must be hundreds of people applying but I’ve got nothing to lose,” she added. “To be at the ceremony and hear my name being called out, I was so happy.
“Without my lecturer Sarah Jones, I wouldn’t know anything about television journalism. With her guidance, I became editor and producer of Quays TV News and the day-to-day work on the show has helped me grow.
“The thing I enjoy most is getting a story and making it your own. You can really delve into the meaning behind what people are saying, doing or thinking and then find an interesting way to put that on TV.”
Dubbed the Oscars of regional journalism, this year’s awards attracted more than 300 entries and were presented at a glittering ceremony at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.
Nicola Green, Head of Communications and Reputation at O2 UK, said: “The media talent in the North West is undeniable. Every year the judging panel finds it harder and harder to select an overall winner for each category.”
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