November 30, 2007  

Journalist Amy Harris, whose entry won the coveted Scoop of the Year at the annual Midland Media Awards, received her prize from Dr Derek Harris, chief executive of Aston Science Park, which sponsored the category.

Also pictured are Heart FM radio personality Ed James (left), who compared the evening, and Andrew Pierce (right), assistant editor of The Daily Telegraph, who chaired the judging panel.

Amy, who is on the staff of The Hinckley Times, also took the runner-up spot in the Newcomer of the Year category.

Her award-winning entry focused on an unusual tale about a local man who, upon collecting his mail from the postman outside his home, elected to dispense with some junk mail in a nearby litter bin. However, he was soon tracked down by a bureaucrat from the local council who decided his “crime” was so serious that it warranted draconian action in the form of a fine.

Judges said that Amy’s article took the award because it was picked up not only by the UK national press but media organisations around the world.

Dr Harris commented: “We were delighted to again be associated with the Awards, which provide a showcase for the undoubted talents of Midland journalism.”

The awards, organised by Birmingham Press Club, were also sponsored by Royal Mail, law firm Bevan Brittan, regional development agency AWM, Barclays Bank, East Midlands Airport, Just Good Food and property developer Targetfollow.