Multi award-winning local newspaper reporter Gareth Davies has announced he is quitting his job at the Croydon Advertiser.
The four-time Regional Press Awards Weekly Reporter of the Year recipient took to Twitter last night to reveal his decision to walk away from the title where he began his journalism career eight years ago as a trainee reporter.
Last month widespread editorial cuts, including the loss of more than 13 jobs, were announced at Trinity Mirror-owned Local World newspapers in the south East, including Davies’ own Croydon Advertiser.
Father-of-one Davies, 31, recently struck a blow for press freedom when he succeeded in getting the Met police to drop a harassment notice against him. The force also promised to write to the College of Policing to change its training following the incident.
In a series of tweets, Davies revealed he wasn’t going on to a new job but would instead be spending time with his young son and would “work out what to do next”.
He said: “Sad to say that I’ll be leaving @CroydonAd next Friday (June 24). It’s been eight years and I’ve pretty much loved every minute
“Well-known new company is making changes and I’ve decided it’s the right time for me to move on. So I’m going to spend some time with junior reporter [Davies’ nickname for his son] and work out what to do next.
He added: “It’s been an absolute privilege to work at the Advertiser, alongside some brilliant people in a town I’ve come to call home.”
Davies spoke at length about his approach to being a reporter and his love for the regional press in an interview with Press Gazette last month.
He said: “I still haven’t lost that love of the job that I had when I first arrived.”
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