The Mirror has received a prestigious award at the esteemed Press Awards. Ros Wynne-Jones, our Real Britain editor, was honored with the Excellence in Diversity prize for her Island of Strangers series. This series delves into the ways communities in the UK bridge challenging divides. Judges commended her for amplifying the voices of marginalized individuals, highlighting the importance of this in today’s journalism landscape.

Ros, alongside Mirror colleagues John Domokos, Claire Donnelly, and Maryam Qaiser, embarked on a journey across the nation to explore hope in struggling regions. Their travels took them to places like Middlesbrough, where they visited the Flower Patch—a space where refugees and locals cultivate flowers together to rejuvenate abandoned green areas. In Cardiff, they spent time with a cabaret group for seniors on one of the city’s most notorious estates.

Accepting her award, Ros expressed gratitude for the opportunity to create the Island of Strangers films, emphasizing the trust placed in them by communities in Rotherham, Cardiff, Liverpool, and Stockton-on-Tees. She highlighted the importance of showcasing stories from communities that have successfully tackled divisions, portraying Britain as a nation of unity and neighborliness.