Tom Burgess

Trainee reporter Tom Burgess has made a remarkable impact in the few months he's been at The Northern Echo. Since joining in July, he has displayed tenacity, commitment, knowledge, and a desire which should be applauded and would be a credit to any newsroom.

Tom's work spans a spectrum of stories, from hard-hitting special reports and shocking revelations to heart-wrenching narratives that have sparked inquiries and promises to change. He uncovered an issue affecting a reader, turning it into national and international news. His investigations into the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) over the last year revealed serious issues, resulting in court cases, paramedic dismissals, and inquiries that prompted apologies and promises of change from service chiefs.

Despite his relative inexperience, Tom gained the trust of key contacts, leading to the exposure of a shocking incident where paramedics wrongly declared a woman dead, but shockingly when the woman’s ‘body’ was taken to the hospital she was found to be alive. His relentless pursuit of the truth brought attention to the story nationally, with coverage by major media outlets, including BBC and Sky, plus Tom appeared on BBC Radio 4 to explain how he came to the story.

Another compelling example of Tom's impactful journalism involves his coverage of a damning Care Quality Commission (CQC) report on maternity care in County Durham. A mother contacted Tom to reveal a horrifying incident where she received a foetus in toilet paper instead of her baby's ashes after a miscarriage. Tom, through his rapport with the grieving mother, brought attention to the issue, prompting an apology from the Trust and uncovered similar experiences from other mothers. Early in his role with us, he reported on athletes falling ill at a triathlon event, subsequently discovering sewage was being dumped into the North Sea through social media campaign groups. He went beyond expectations for a trainee, producing a comprehensive special report that gained significant coverage and attention, including on HoldTheFrontPage.

Tom's versatility is evident in his coverage of various stories, from exploring his hometown using Facebook Lives to interviewing top politicians and delivering splash-worthy content. His commitment, tenacity, and skill, demonstrated in a short time, make him a standout journalist deserving of recognition. His work has already made a tangible difference, prompting investigations, apologies, and policy reviews.

This is a standout young journalist whose impact in such a brief time in the industry has been nothing short of amazing. He has a huge bright future ahead – but the commitment, tenacity, determination, instinct and skill he has already shown in abundance are worthy of an award.