THIRD generation journalist Harry Hesp, of Roadwater, seems determined to outgun both his father and grandfather when it comes to following in their career footsteps. Harry was in London this week having been shortlisted for the prestigious Guardian Media Awards in a UK-wide competition. He won the accolade with a three and a half minute documentary on West Somerset mud-horse fisherman Brendan Sellick and his son Adrian. And on Wednesday night, he was named the runner-up, receiving a £400 prize. Only a week before, 22-year-old Harry picked up his first class honours degree in broadcast journalism at the University of Gloucester. He was also given the university’s Media Student of the Year Award at the Cheltenham-based faculty, which was presented by BBC Gloucester’s managing editor Mark Hurrell. Harry’s grandfather Peter Hesp, of Selworthy, is well known in the are having covered West Somerset and Exmoor as a reporter for 40 years, and his father Martin, who began his career at the Free Press, is senior staff writer at the Western Morning News and a broadcaster. It is the broadcast side of journalism that Harry hopes to focus on, having already completed work placements at BBC Radio Five Live’s football department and at Sky’s cult sports programme, Soccer AM. “I’ve always loved football and still turn out for Watchet Reserves whenever I can,” said Harry. “But I always thought if I couldn’t actually be a professional footballer, then I could follow in the family journalism tradition and report on the game.” He added: “Being short-listed to the final five for my documentary was like winning the British media equivalent of the Oscars,” he said. “All I have to do now is convert all this success into a real job.” Harry is pictured being presented with the Gloucester University Media Student of the Year Award by BBC managing editor Mark Hurrell.

Harry overtakes family footsteps - Friday, 04/Dec/2009