The Newry Reporter’s very own Cormac Campbell has been crowned RTE’s ‘Journalist of the Year’ on the breakfast with Hector Show. The prestigious award was announced throughout Ireland over the radio waves last Wednesday morning. The medium sized town, fairly big story slot whioch sees author and journalist Ronan Casey scour Ireland’s regional newspapers with host Hector O hEochagain for unique tales has tickled the funny bone of listeners to the Galway based show since 2011. With stories relating to John Lennon’s teeth, a former Top of the Pop’s chart topping teacher and the export of a hotel Cormac’s unique eye for an unusual news story and whimsical wording in his journo jurisdiction have been regularly featured over the last 12 months – something that was recognized during last week’s end of year awards slot. Following the award Hector spoke to the Reporter to congratulate our award-winning scribe. “Local newspapers are a really important connection for communities throughout Ireland and an excellent source of news for all,” said Hector. “At the breakfast with Hector show we are indebted to the fantastic weekly reports from Cormac at the Newry Reporter who we were delighted to crown Journalist of the Year and we look forward to many more stories from his publication maith thu Cormac,” added Hector. Journalist of the Year Cormac also took the time out from is busy story hunting to share a few words with the Reporter readers on his journo prize. “I have to say I was very much surprised and extremely happy to be awarded the title by Hector and the crew at RTE,” said Cormac. “I always like to listen to and write unusual and odd stories that catch the reader’s eye. Local people have a great sense of humour and this shows through in some of the stories that have now reached national attention. On Hector’s show. one of my favourite stories was about John Lennon’s tooth being brought to Dublin by Warrenpoint dentist Paul Fitzsimons. My colleague Gareth McCullough who has a penchant for puns and unusual headlines helped me come up with the headline ‘Toothy in the shy with Fitzsimmons. We managed to get 8 Beetles song titles into 230 words of a story. I think it was some kind of record,” laughed the new Journalist of the Year for 2013.
18th December 2013
Newry Reporter
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