Night to remember for The Bridge

THE BRIDGE newsletter in Berwick on Tweed was the only North East finalist in the British Journalism Awards 2024.

It was amazing to be in the room with top journalists last Thursday 12 December at London’s Bankside Hilton Hotel. And great to represent Berwick on the national press stage. There was to be no win for The Bridge this time in the Local Journalism category but it was a fantastic evening nonetheless.

It was a wonderful do, never mind having the extra frisson of a possible award adding an edge to things. The tables represented all the major news organisations: The Spectator, The Times, Channel 4, ITV. I was seated on the Amazon table which was one of the event sponsors. My neighbours were other independent journalists and it was fun ‘star’ spotting across the room. Piers Morgan, Beth Rigby, Nick Ferrari were all there, and Laura Kuenssberg who won the Interviewer of the Year category. 

I bumped into Laura in the Ladies and we bonded over our M&S choices – her sparkly boots, my leopard-print skirt!

Broadcaster Jeremy Vine was MC and I had a cheeky chat with him asking him what notes he had about me ready for when he announced my award!
All the Public Interest news big-hitters of the year were recognised, including the Horizon Post Office story broken by Computer Weekly, and the Huw Edwards scandal. 

There was also a moment to recognise fallen journalists who, when in war zones, have the most dangerous lives. A new ‘On the Record Memorial’ fund was announced to create a permanent memorial to lost reporters, photographers and cameramen.

It’s been a great year for The Bridge with BJA 2024 finalist placing following The Bridge shortlisting in the Publisher Newsletters Awards 2024. I’ve also been long-listed for the Tenacious Awards for a potential investigative piece on the growing national scourge of Stalking.

It was The Bridge’s reporting on Berwick on Tweed Town Council which led to the BJA 2024 shortlisting. The entry comprised four stories of Town Council coverage from the last twelve months which were then judged by eighty of the UK’s top editors and journalists. More than 750 entries were whittled down to around 100 finalists in twenty categories.

A former Scotsman reporter trained at the Newcastle Journal’s former training facility, I also worked as a producer at BBC Radio Newcastle. The Bridge, Berwick’s community newsletter launched, in February 2023.

I decided a print newsletter would suit the Berwick demographic. While it is expensive to produce compared to online, people enjoy reading print and it’s accessible to all whether online or not. The Bridge is funded on a shoestring budget with sales, sponsorship and advertising sales covering the expenses of production. More than 1,200 readers now read each issue which is published six times a year. No writer is paid.

The Bridge is incredibly lucky to have such dedicated and talented writers. We publish contributions from David Foxton, well-known restaurateur in Berwick; John Ferguson who writes about Berwick Port and now new young sports writer, Ben Langley.

I’m passionate about promoting our wonderfully historic town and its amazing independent businesses. All the outlets which sell The Bridge get a small mark-up for every copy.

In an age when aspects of community are being slowly eroded, independent journalism is more important than ever to empower and unite citizens. Providing information about the place they live creates a sense of community and brings wellbeing, and that all makes Berwick an even more fantastic place to live.

These are The Bridge current outlets:-
Premier Stores, North Road
Berwick Station Costa Café
The Pilot Inn, Low Greens
Audela, Bridge Street 
The Green Shop, Bridge Street 
G C Grieve Ltd, Church Street 
Dockside Gallery, Tweedmouth

Get in touch with me, Wendy, for more information on becoming an outlet, advertising rates or sponsorship. Adverts start at £25 for a mini-box (45x63mm)
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[email protected]
07857 075245
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