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A young reporter on The Oban Times says his time working on Arran has contributed to his success in receiving a top media award.
Euan Paterson, aged 23, has won the Young Journalist of the Year in this year’s Highlands and Islands Media Awards for the portfolio of stories his submitted.
It is the first time that he has entered such a competition.
Mainly based in Oban, Euan has done several stints on Arran learning his craft.
The stories he submitted for the award were one about a young doctor due to start work at Oban hospital who was involved in the terrorist alert at Glasgow airport, one about a doctor who has dealt with 350 accidents in 27 years at one particular corner of the road through Appin, near Oban, and one about ambulance crewmen in Oban working 22-hour days.
Euan said: ‘I am very excited but also very surprised at the news. I really enjoy the job I do and to be rewarded for it is a bonus.
‘My time on Arran has definitely helped to develop my news sense and skills as a journalist. I don’t think people realise how much is happening on the island and it is a great place for a young journalist to learn his trade.
‘You get to meet a lot of different people and I’ve made some useful contacts.’
Euan is the son of Taynuilt police constable David Paterson and Mod silver pendant winner Audrey Paterson.
He is a former pupil of Taynuilt Primary School and a former head boy of Oban High School.
Euan joined The Oban Times in 2002, progressing through the newspaper’s own training
programme.
The Oban Times editorial director Stewart MacKenzie expressed delight at the news.
He said: Euan has shown an enthusiasm and commitment to his career and has used his local knowledge and understanding of the west Highlands to full advantage.’
First Minister Alex Salmond will present the awards at a press ball in Nairn next month.
