Anna Smith, reporter on the weekly News Post Leader, Whitley Bay, has been recruited as chief reporter by one of the country’s oldest provincial dailies, The Shields Gazette.
Smith, who graduated in English and History from Lancaster University, won the the Eric Dobson Award for the best result by a trainee from the North East in the 2003 NCE exams.
The previous year she was runnerup in the contest for the best NCTJ preentry result at Darlington College.
Smith has worked for News Post Leader for three years as district reporter for Blyth.
She said: “I am looking forward to the challenge of working on a quality daily newspaper.”
Editor John Szymanski said: “Anna is a talented young journalist who has an ability to make good contacts and provide a plethora of story ideas.”
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