The Daily Mirror has secured a prestigious accolade at the Press Awards, with Real Britain editor Ros Wynne-Jones receiving the Excellence in Diversity award for her compelling series, Island of Strangers. This series delves into how communities across the United Kingdom navigate and overcome difficult divides.
Judges commended Wynne-Jones for giving "a voice to those who usually wouldn't be heard," describing this as "vital" in contemporary journalism. The series involved traveling to some of the nation's most challenged areas in search of hope, alongside colleagues John Domokos, Claire Donnelly, and Maryam Qaiser.
Community Engagement and Stories
In Middlesbrough, the team visited the Flower Patch, a community garden where refugees and local residents cultivate flowers and reclaim abandoned green spaces. In Cardiff, they spent time with a cabaret group for the over-60s on one of the city's most notorious housing estates.
Upon receiving her award at a glittering ceremony, Wynne-Jones remarked: "Making the Island of Strangers series with my colleagues has been an absolute privilege. We are indebted to the four communities – in Rotherham, Cardiff, Liverpool, and Stockton-on-Tees – who trusted us to tell a different story about the people who live there."
She added: "Too often, the story of our country is the one told by a few loud, angry voices. By going to communities that have overcome divisions, and that are finding ways to live with difference, we have found the real story – Britain is a nation of neighbours."
The series, which also included contributions from the Mirror's team, highlights the resilience and unity found in diverse communities across Britain.
