Hannah Thomas’s ITV Wales report about the plight of commoners grazing the Blorenge Mountain in southeast Wales during wildfires last summer has won the livestock & grassland category in the BGAJ Awards for Agricultural Journalism.
“It was gravely underreported in the national press,” she said. “I was the first reporter to document the situation, and it was my report that made Wales First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth visit the graziers.”
Constructed from her own interviews, research and investigative original reporting, the impact led to a wildfire summit, as well as military support for fighting the fires.
Judges Amy Jackson from Oxtale Communications, last year’s winner Olivia Cooper, Yorkshire beef farmer Angus Gowthorpe and Phil Hambling from award sponsor’s ABP agreed that it was a powerful report. “Such a strong piece of storytelling,” one said, while another pointed out how detailed the coverage was.
Runner up in the category in a very close contest was freelance journalist Aly Balsom. Aly’s article for Farmers Weekly tackled the challenge of attracting and retaining labour in the dairy industry by focusing on a farmer coming back into the industry after being made redundant from a career in hospitality during the Covid pandemic.
Judges commented how the article was packed with interesting human aspects, practical tips and advice from an expert.
“The article really has everything,” one said. “It unfolds logically and is easy to read while being pitched at the right technical levels. There’s a great focus on learnings from other industries and sharing success.”
Hannah won £500 for her award winning article, while Aly received £150. Both will also be invited to a celebratory lunch in the coming months hosted by award sponsor ABP.
