At just 19, Ezekiel Bertrand is Newsquest’s youngest reporter, driven to ensure local communities are never overlooked. Ever since starting at Newsquest at 16, he has shone a light on local institutions, held them to account, exposed local issues, and made sure residents’ concerns in south London are more than just headlines.

In one powerful investigation in January 2026, he told the story of Shakira Dixon Williams, whose devastating loss of twins exposed gaps in bereavement care at Lewisham Hospital. By sharing her experience and connecting it to wider NHS standards, Ezekiel helped spark conversations about staffing, training, and support. This led Lewisham Hospital to take action to ensure that nobody would have to go through the same experience that Shakira did.

Ezekiel digs into local issues that matter to people it affects the most. In January, he secured a rare and exclusive face-to-face interview with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In that interview, he focused on the government's plans to support south London pubs and restaurants after covering many of their closures in 2025.

Aware of how easy it is to scroll past a story, Ezekiel brings local journalism to life online through his use of interactive charts and graphs, which make complex issues clear at a glance. He also publishes weekly polls that invite readers to join discussions by keeping them hyperlocal.

He began his career at 16, earning his NCTJ at 18, and is now pursuing his NQJ as the youngest journalist doing so in the country. In 2025, he confounded expectations by becoming the youngest person to win the NCTJ Apprentice of the Year award.

Local journalism is often overlooked, but Ezekiel’s passion for giving a voice to those silenced by fear or systemic barriers drives everything he does.

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