THE paper boys and girls who worked tirelessly to deliver copies of the Press and Journal and Evening Express newspapers to vulnerable community members during lockdown have been commended with the Special 2020 Award at the Regional Press Awards, this week.
Throughout 2020, the 750 paper boys and girls working for the Aberdeen Journals provided a valuable service to thousands of households across the Highland and Islands and the north-east, including those who were living alone or isolating during lockdown, despite the never-ending challenges posed by the pandemic.
For many during lockdown, the paper girls and boys were a welcome sight each day.
From writing letters of support to running simple errands, the delivery team served their communities very proud and have been recognised for their outstanding work with the award.
Head of newspaper sales and marketing at DC Thomson, Neil Mackland, said: “The coronavirus pandemic challenged us all in 2020.
“But for the 750 girls and boys who make up our home delivery network, it brought out the very best of them.
“Our delivery footprint covers an area which takes in some of the most challenging geographies in the UK, from the fishing ports of the north-east to the very north of the Scottish Highlands.
“We were faced with challenges at the start of lockdown, however we received strong support from parents and customers as they could see we were doing absolutely everything we could to ensure safe working conditions with no impact on our delivery service.
“We started receiving letters and calls of thanks from our readers, passing on their appreciation for the amazing work by our very own home delivery heroes.
“We also witnessed many examples of our newsboys and girls offering to collect shopping, take out bins and run errands for our most vulnerable customers.
“We are proud to be associated with them.”
Press and Journal editor-in-chief, Frank O’Donnell, said: “We rightly saluted our frontline workers who kept the country going during lockdown.
“But perhaps one group that went unheralded were the paper boys and girls, who brought trusted local news on the pandemic directly to people’s doors.
“A daily newspaper written by professional journalists was so important to people across the north and north-east, especially in those early stages of Covid-19, when misinformation and rumour were common.
“Not only did these youngsters keep delivering, they offered to help those who couldn’t leave their homes by bringing vital supplies and running errands.
“This says so much about the strength of our communities, the future of our region and the big heart of our young people. I am proud to know them.”
ENDS
For more information, contact dctmedia@johndoehub.com
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