Gurdip keeps his title
Gurdip Thandi
Gurdip Thandi (pictured), who is based at Reach Plc’s Birmingham Live newsroom, has retained his crown as Local Democracy Reporter of the Year – winning the title for the second time in a row.
He was presented with his award at the annual Local Democracy Reporting Service conference, held at Media City in Salford.
The judges were impressed by Gurdip’s portfolio which included :
· Family sent used testing swabs in Covid hotspot
Under the scheme, first launched in 2017, the BBC provides funding for 165 local news journalists to cover the work of local councils and other local public bodies and over the past four years, LDRs have produced nearly a quarter of a million stories, with 1,321 stories filed over a seven-day period in September.
News Media Association Owen Meredith , who opened the conference together with BBC Director General Tim Davie, said: "The Local News Partnership is a shining example of the value that can be created through the BBC working in genuine partnership with the commercial news media sector. We are delighted the BBC has reaffirmed its commitment to the scheme through to at least 2027.
“The awards today are a showcase of the brilliant journalism produced by the Local Democracy Reporters during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond,” he added.
The awards were presented by BBC weather presenter and broadcaster Owain Wyn Evans, who just two weeks previously raised more than £3 million for Children in Need after completing an incredible 24-hour drumathon. The awards included a new trophy in memory of hugely-respected Local Democracy Reporter George Makin – Gurdip’s colleague in Birmingham - who sadly passed away earlier this year less than three months after revealing he had been diagnosed with incurable cancer.
The award was open to LDRs in post for fewer than 12 months, ensuring George’s commitment to public interest journalism will continue to be an inspiration for new recruits each year.
To hand it over to winner Joe Ives for his coverage of the housing of refugees in Torbay, Owain was joined on stage by George’s wife Debbie and their children Hannah and Rohan.
