I'm glad to be the first here, congratulate Jon.

To get stories like this means months of painstaking research and the ability to piece together information and present it in an informative and concise format.

Journalists on local papers are even more under pressure to get it right because they haven't the sheer might and size of a national newspaper behind them.

Thanks to Jon for his diligent work and presenting the facts just as they are. (Whether otheres like it or not).

No sensationalism, no embellishments, just facts.

Facts speak for themselves and cannot be argued with.

This is a great achievement, to beat off competition from other talented writers.

So often journalists are castigated and reviled but let's look at it this way; we now rely solely on newspapers to tell us the truth about what's going on because nobody else will.

The newspapers are really the only means we have left of uncovering and exposing skulduggery.

They may not always get it spot on but imagine a world without them.

Governments would be able to do whatever they liked without fear of being exposed.

Long may journalists like Jon continue to tell us what's happening so that we may at least have a choice of working out what to do about it - even if what we can do is limited.

Good on you Jon.

Reading Kim Gandy's comments it would appear she is possibly a reporter too.However in the report there is one spelling mistake and a couple of misconceptions.Nobod
y relies on newspapers to tell us the truth and surely the police have a role in uncovering and exposing skullduggery.Good luck to Jon on his award but its not the nobel peace prize is it. He is just doing his job after all.

What a churlish comment from "John,UK"! Nobody said it was the Nobel Peace Prize, but it's good to see the fine work our Echo does recognised nationally, again. Yes, we DO rely on the Echo to tell us the truth -- which ity does -- and expose scandals that those in authority would like covered up.

Yes John, you are right. I am a published writer and have worked on both nationals and local papers, so I can see journalism from both sides of the fence.

But I think making such a sweeping statement as "nobody relies on newspapers to tell us the truth" is a bit short sighted.

If that is so, why do millions buy them then?

It is people's thirst for knowledge, whether it's an unhealthy interest in the boring and predictable lives of downmarket celebs or whether it's a desire to know the truth about political cover ups and scandals.

Newspapers, love 'em or hate 'em, are still regarded by many as their ONLY means of finding out what's going on.

As for Jon himself, he was fairly sceptical about the traveller issue when he first visited the villagers of Crays Hill but thus far, has been the only one to really bother investigating the surrounding issues in-depth.

Jon is a fair-minded individual who was prepared to be open-minded from the start but unlike others, he actually spent time asking locals as well as travellers, for their opinions and views. He also bothered to check out physical evidence for himself and to push his investigations wider than the Basildon area - and that takes a lot of hard work and effort, much of it thankless.

Local councillors and Basildon council officials have done absolutely nothing to help the situation and assorted do gooders have actually made things far worse.

What Jon did was assimilate the information he uncovered and arrive at the only conclusion he could, with glaringly obvious facts and evidence staring him in the face.

Which is more than can be said for the police, local and national government.

Jon Austin has run rings around the lot of them and they should hang their heads in shame.

Congratulations to Jon on this award.

However the endorsement of Kim Gandy could be seen as a bit of a mixed blessing!

The challenge with most newspapers is that they give opinion not facts. The opinion is often skewed to allow extreme headlines that help sell newspapers.

The Express Group and their "Maddy" campaign seems a good example.

Never forget that the prime purpose of a newspaper is to make profit.

Unfortunately many readers of the daily press like to be told what to think. That is why Murdoch can virtually guarantee who will get elected to government in this country.

Personally, just give me the facts, I can make my own mind up and my opinion is as valid as that of any one else.

Stop all the crap well done Jon, what is wrong with this bloody Country we are slow to praise and quick to condemm the press,when they are often the only justice (naming and shaming) left in the Country.

Congratulations, Jon, may you win many more.

Jon Austin= Hammer of the gypsies.

schraube wrote:
<b> Stop all the crap well done Jon, what is wrong with this bloody Country we are slow to praise and quick to condemm the press,when they are often the only justice (naming and shaming) left in the Country.</b>

Jon Austin deserves this award and his articles seem to be well balanced and well researched.

However you have to have a pretty distorted view of life to accept that the press = justice in this or any other country.

The press is a business no more no less. If they think something well sell newspapers they will run with it.

History shows time and time again that for every accurately reported story, there are just as many that are inaccurately reported.

The newspapers have been the play things of wealthy "Press Barons" for many years and they tend to reflect what their owners want, not necessarily the facts.

Try not to delude yourself about the press any more than you already do. There are good and bad everywhere. At present much of the press are probably saying things you agree with, what happens when they are saying things you don't agree with?

Well done Jon,again, you will have to stop monopolising these awards!!

Kim to answer your question If that is so, why do millions buy them then? Tv guide, page 3,sports page,sudoku,crosswor
d to name but a few things. Those that buy it to be told Freddie Starr ate my hamster really need to get out more.In my comment I did say good luck Jon so back off supporter if thats what you name is meant to read.However unlike you I dont rely on the Echo to tell me the truth in fact I wouldn't rely on the Echo for much.As a supplier to the Echo of stories from one of the emergency services in the past I can confirm first hand that they do not print the truth they do not even check who their sources are.I will finish by saying yet again he was only doing his job.

I say again "well done and well deserved John". You have always reported the truth in Hovefields and Crays Hill and we respect and look forward to reading the truth about what is going on here. Just wish the Nationals would do the same. You deserved the award.

Kim Gandy you are deluded if you believe newspapers 'tell the truth'. In most part they are no less corrupt than the institutions they report on.

Jon Austin is - contrary to JohnUk's silly suggestion (just doing his job) - a unique example of what can be achieved by one individual working within a under-resourced, poorly paid, demoralised industry. That's why he keeps winning awards. Do you get it JohnUK? Wake-up!

Austin's work goes well beyond what is expected or asked of the journalist. Why? Because he never, ever stops asking that question: "Why?" He is brave, intelligent hard working and talented, but above all else he is as close to an HONEST individual as anyone is ever likely to meet.

Keep going Jon. But always stay safe.

Let's get one thing clear here. Irrespective of Jon Austin's talent and hard work, the main reason he is being so generously lauded by Ms Gandy is because he has run a series of inflammatory articles on the aforementioned Ms Gandy's pet subject - Travellers.

The "truth" has always taken a secondary role to circulation; and everyone knows controversy and bad news sell.

If this "Travellers: the Truth" investigation was so fantastic, why has the link on the Echo website been missing for the past few months? Could it be related to all these "stories" about guns, car-boot sales and stealth development that turned out to be baseless, groundless, and simply malicious and unfounded?

By all means praise a man for being good at his job. But take off the blinkers for a moment and see what impact his actions have - mainly, giving strength to intolerant and vindictive souls like we see posting on this site every day.

If papers always tell the truth then how do you explain the Star/Express paying damages to the McCanns?

Piffle.

truth....lol..thats why they keep deleting posts about Ricky Percivals trial. The jury were told that the star witness who allegedly heard gunshots was an ex Royal marine who was some sort of weapons expert. The truth is - and has been proved - he is in fact a wanted sex offender who has since fled to spain and he has NEVER been in the Royal marines. Shocking story - but do we see it in the Echo.....not likely. Jobsworths are frightend to expose their corupt pals in the police. Truth........lol....

.jokers!

On Thursday evening the Evening Echo published a story headlined, `Help Cops Catch Suspects.` The article features various individuals Essex police wish to speak to about various offences. One named individual is Mr. Gordon Osborne - wanted for sexual assault. Being public spirited I would like to assist in this matter by pointing out that Osborne is the one Essex police interviewed several times (whilst he was on the run) so that he could give evidence (which turned out to be false) at Ricky Percivals murder trial. Essex police know - and have ALWAYS known where Osborne is! I have just telephoned Essex police who claim they know nothing about Osborne being interviewed at his home in Spain whilst he was on the run but they are going to `investigate.`(I can send you his statements if it helps boys) We now have a situation where Essex police are wasting tax payers money either hunting for a man they know the location of or they are investigating themselves! If they are investigating this peculiarity then how come I can access the information one police department clearly cant access? A cynic may think that Essex police put the Appeal in the newspaper to warn Osborne the game is up his false story has come to light and so he better go back into hiding. That way any deal they may have done with him during their cosy chats at his Spanish Villa will not become public. Essex police have just rang me back, requesting I give them any info re Gordon Osborne, I have told them what I think they are up to and all they will say is that they are going to make `further enquiries!` Try calling your Boss lads, this is his own memo from April 2005, he definitely knows where Osborne is.

Subject: OSBORNE!
Policy Record

Date 21/04/2005 Time 0851

Title: DECISION 46 - WITNESS OSBORNE


Policy Text: Following the successful conclusion of the
dismissal hearing I decided that the witness Osborne should
be re interviewed with a view to obtaining a more detailed
statement regarding what he heard on the night of the
murder. He currently resides in Spain. His evidence is
particularly important given his army background. Dc Sharp
has informed me, from the enquiries that he has made, that
Osborne is wanted on a first instance warrant for failing
to answer police bail following his arrest for indecent
assault in February 2004.

I have read the file and caused enquiries to be made with
the victim to establish her current wishes regarding
proceedings. She wishes the matter to be prosecuted. I have
discussed the matter with Chris McCann CPS and it has been
agreed that Southend division will re-submit the file to
the CPS in order for the evidence to be reviewed for
consideration of extradition proceedings.

No action will be taken regarding the statement until the
review has taken place.

Fancy asking a sex abuse victim if they still want to carry on with a prosecution - just so Osborne would be free to give his false evidence???