Happy Anniversary to me (From Haringey Independent)

Happy Anniversary to me

1:21pm Thursday 16th October 2008

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Hoorah! It’s Black History Month. Which also coincides with my one-year anniversary with the paper.

Just twelve months ago, I entered the newsroom a wide-eyed innocent. I was told I was too nice. To get more critical. They had me lined up as the next fresh-faced Blue Peter presenter, hopefully without the secret coke habit.

Fast-forward a year and I’m still here — as optimistic as ever. The highs and lows of reporting have done nothing to tarnish my zest for all things positive.

Since then I’ve launched a campaign to save Haringey’s post offices and fought (with the pen as my sword and my notepad as a shield) for OAPs to keep their free gym passes. And I’m proud to say that I had a bite of the sweet taste of success. Admittedly it was only one post office but it’s the small battles that wins wars n’est pas?

I was genuinely thrilled to receive my first threat of violence after covering a story in some of the less savoury parts of Tottenham — it was a career-defining moment having managed to write at least one story that ruffled a few feathers. I must be the only reporter who has been thanked by the BNP for "fair and accurate" reporting.

But that’s enough rose-tinted reminiscing for now, I’ve got to save something for my memoirs.