Our double award winning journalist Debbie Luxon says she was “shocked and thrilled” to be honoured at the annual Welsh Media Awards gala.
The Cambrian News won three of the most prestigious awards at the annual Welsh Media Awards gala, with Debbie scooping two reporting prizes.
Debbie was acclaimed as News Writer of the Year and named the Journalist of the Year in Wales. Our news brand for Mid Wales, serving Cardigan Bay, Ceredigion, Gwynedd and North Powys, was named Weekly Newspaper of the Year.
Around 200 guests attended the awards ceremony at Cardiff’s Parkgate Hotel which showcased “excellence in print, online and broadcast journalism” in both English and Welsh.
After the surprise sank in, Debbie said: “I was shocked and thrilled by the awards, one of which I had no idea was going to happen!
“I’ve been trying to process what happened on Friday ever since.
Team support
“The judges chose local journalism as its champion for this year, a job I have returned to again and again because it’s where all the good stuff is at, with the connections, the relevance, the stories that matter to real people in real communities who need highlighting, supporting, uplifting through independent, empathetic coverage.
“Last Friday, something I never even dreamed about, happened. Thank you to my team – without their support and encouragement, I would not have been able to accomplish any of the stories that led to these nominations.”
In their commendation, the judges said of Debbie: “Our Journalist of the Year is a local journalist, providing a vital service for readers and shining a light on important issues. [She] constantly goes behind cold statistics to give a human face to issues, combining objectivity with empathy and an overriding commitment to the communities being served.”
The judges described the three awards as a triumph for weekly journalism at a time when the whole industry is facing significant challenges.
They said Debbie delivered “a masterclass” when it came to her news writing, noting she “was able to combine outstanding reporting with truly outstanding writing, setting a benchmark for the industry. Their work proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that long-form journalism still holds a vital and important place in a world dominated by soundbites and fleeting social media posts.”