Anna Whittaker
@journoanna_
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BBC political reporter for the Black Country/ #30ToWatch journalist / @IpsoNews panel/ [email protected] / IG: annawhittakerbbc
Joined November 2015
My first BBC News appearance live from Stoke-on-Trent today ✨. I have dreaaaamed of moments like these !!🥲
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Day one as a BBC political reporter, such a dream come true 🥹. Any Staffordshire politics stories, my new email is anna.e.whittaker@bbc.co.uk !!
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2021: I interviewed @AngelaRayner, deputy Labour leader, as a Nottingham post reporter…. 2024: I interviewed Angela Rayner…now deputy PM, as a BBC political reporter!
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I’ve won a national award for ‘inspiring local journalism’ from @ukaop for my work on the Nottingham maternity crisis . I absolutely couldn’t have done this without the courage of so many families trusting me with their stories over the last few years🤍
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Today, after we asked them for a comment, they transferred her £8k. She rang me overjoyed and extremely emotional saying she’ll now be able to afford an oven😭❤️. The power of local news💪🏼.
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🚨Job news! This week will be my last at @Notts_TV . I'm off to the BBC to be a political reporter covering Staffordshire✨. I'll be reporting for @BBCRadioStoke and @bbcmtd across radio, TV and online - in a general election year, I can't wait!.
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Job news. 💫📺. I’ve said goodbye to the team at @nottslive & thrilled to say I’m starting as a Local Democracy Reporter with @Notts_TV!. Beyond excited to get started properly next week🥳.
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"We shouldn't be here to attack someone for who they love", says @MichaelPayneUK after a Tory party member and local elections candidate posted a homophobic slur about him. Keith Seaton has now been suspended by the local Conservative Party.
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I interviewed a woman this week who said cowboy builders owed her thousands of pounds for a half-built conservatory. She spent her savings getting it fixed. After two years, she was getting nowhere despite a court case which ruled in her favour, so she got in touch with us. .
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Thailand was pretty magical…💍. (Very clever fiancée has spent the last five months making my ring🥹)
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Hundreds of people paying their respects to Grace, Barnaby and Ian in Nottingham’s Old Market Square . #NottinghamTogether 🤍
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Job news! I’ve finished my last shift at BBC Stoke 🥹. I’ve had the BEST time covering a fab patch in such a momentous year politically. Excited for a new challenge as political reporter for the Black Country! Pls send tips and stories🖊️
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Really pleased to be highly commended for an ‘inspiring local journalism’ award last night at the @ukaop ceremony 💕🥹
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Six years ago I stared my degree at @sheffjournalism and joked (👀) with coursemates that I wanted to be a journalist so I could get verified on Twitter. THAT DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED😂🙌.
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Life update from me. I’m very excited to be joining the team at @nottslive next week as a reporter!. I’ve had the best two years reporting on my home city with fantastic colleagues at Derbyshire Live but I can’t wait for a new challenge🥳.
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With a week until polling day…. Keir Starmer visits a pottery in Stoke-on-Trent with Keith Brymer Jones of the Great Pottery Throw Down
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Wilkos in Nottingham💔. Some staff have worked at the store since 1994
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Over the moon to find out today that I have passed my exams. I am now officially a senior reporter!!!😁😁😁.
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Seven years ago 😱😱😱 when I told my dad @andywofficial my A-Level results live on the radio . I had the BEST time at @sheffjournalism and now I’m an actual journalist working in telly!!🥹
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22 years ago today I made my debut in the Derby Telegraph. as a newborn baby! (alongside anger over bin collections, I would expect no less)👶🏻
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Not your average Monday!. So fun appearing on the 6 o’clock news tonight live from Stoke📍
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I've just spoken to an incredible man who is visiting every(!!) bridge in Derbyshire pinning handwritten notes of support to the railings for people struggling at the moment. 🗞️Story to follow. @derbyshire_live.
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Breaking: @nottspolice confirm four students from @TrentUni were fined £40,000 last night for parties 'on the eve of Nottingham potentially going in Tier 3 lockdown'.
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Great way to end the week reporting on the general election campaign in stoke - not sure this will ever feel real 😆
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Wow!! Beyond excited about this, especially to feature amongst some incredible national reporters🤩 #30ToWatch.
This year's Mischief + @MHPC #30ToWatch Young Journalist Award winners in the News category are: @The_Crox @shanti_das @JoshPaynePA @amylsharpe @journoanna_. See the full list of all 30 winners at:
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I can’t lie my biggest 2020 achievement was keeping my windowsill plant babies alive🥰🪴
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Great to have my story on the front page of The Mirror today, raising awareness of huge backlogs within the NHS . Frustrating to see it marked as a ‘Mirror exclusive’ though when they’ve used the same words I wrote on Monday! 👀.
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Yesterday was pretty exciting, my first time reporting on TV!!. (Nerves not helped by 30C heat!!)🥵. #LDreporter @Notts_TV
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When I was at primary school I’d host my own radio shows in the back of my dad’s car and he’d be my caller . Yesterday I was on his BBC Radio Nottingham show about the latest on the maternity investigation . Can anyone tell me if this is a local radio first?😅 @andywofficial
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So proud to have won an award for my work at the #LDRSconf22…and even better to have it presented by the legendary @jackieweaver 🤯 . Thank you to the Nottingham maternity families for speaking out - without you these stories would have never seen the light of day ❤️
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Late to the party but. today I've had my Fb profile picture posted on a group with hundreds of members in it and been called a vulture for politely asking someone if they'd like to chat for a story. This abuse is directed *at* journalists doing their jobs every. single. day.
Gosh. The full quotes . Journalists “are always abusing people”. Not sure that’s the line at a careers fair
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YES to the woman on @BBCNewsbeat just now who, when asked about women's safety, said 'I think there should be more signs up saying don't attack women'. This conversation should not be around what women need to do to stay safe. She was on a 5-minute walk. #SabinaNessa.
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Well that's a new one - rang a lovely lady for an interview who after chatting for a few minutes said 'I'm really sorry but I can't really speak right now - I've just gone into labour'. .
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Started in lockdown 1, gave up for a few months, finished in lockdown 2. This feels like a very 2020 achievement but considering my usual lack of artistic talents I am proud🐝@ohsewbootiful
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Ready for a busy day in Westminster…. I’ll be meeting our new MPs ahead of the first PMQs of the new parliament!
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Here’s how #Nottingham city centre looked tonight in its first weekend of Lockdown 2. (Pics don’t show the countless .Deliveroo drivers👀)
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Wollaton Hall lit up tonight for Baby Loss Awareness Week🩷. Thinking off all affected & the families in Nottingham who didn’t get to bring their babies home . #BLAW2023 #WaveOfLight
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What an epic weekend seeing @taylorswift13 at Wembley 🥹. Back in the world of the General Election today interviewing @wesstreeting in Stoke as he launches Labour’s plans for dentistry…
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Today marks a whole year since I started as a reporter with @derbyshire_live and I'm celebrating by drinking more cups of tea than usual (which is saying something)🥳.
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Barnaby Webber’s family are speaking to the huge crowd of people this evening . “The monstrous individual who has shattered so many lives will not define us”
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Never have I ever written a more local newsy local news story.
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My story made it into the top 10 'most read' on the BBC website🥳
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I was going to tweet about the PM's announcement tonight but then I thought maybe some snow dog/nature pics would be a tad nicer❄️☃️
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Obi says don't forget to vote (and take your ID!) . #dogsatpollingstations #Localelections2024 🗳️
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Over and out @Notts_TV 🥺💙. What a send off from incredible colleagues, a LOT of @wearerudyspizza and my final two way with the wonderful @emma_caldwell_ 💫
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Just about recovered from an incredible night covering #GeneralElection2024 with the best @BBCRadioStoke team!!. What a privilege to do this job during such a momentous time in UK politics
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Pleased to report I’ve found the end of the rainbow in Burton-On-Trent🤪🌈
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Life news…did some major adulting and bought a house!!!. Feels so good to say Nottingham is officially home🏡💚
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My first week off since March was supposed to be a relaxing one. but I’m too easily swayed so day 1 looked like this🤣⛰
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It was a pleasure to sit down with @Vicky_McClure this morning to chat about her MBE as part of the King's Birthday Honours . Catch the full conversation on @Notts_TV from 5:30pm ✨
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Excited to hear I’ve been nominated for an ‘Inspiring Local Journalism’ award for my work on the Nottingham maternity crisis over the last year 🥺.
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Families affected by poor maternity care at NUH gather in West Bridgford to meet - some for the first time - and share their experiences . “It’s bitter sweet seeing so many people here” @jackhawkski tells the audience
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🚑 heading out on a 12 hour ambulance shift with EMAS this morning to see how paramedics on the front line are dealing with NHS pressures . I’ll live tweet updates as we go #LDReporter
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EXCL: Nottingham hospitals have been told to improve the way Black and Asian women within maternity services are treated and cared for. Women labelled as being part of 'hard to reach' groups have told Donna Ockenden they feel 'easy to ignore' . 1/.
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Breaking: Tiffany Jones has been suspended from her role at Nottingham hospitals after blocking a number of parents on Twitter whose babies have died in the trust's care.
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Grace O’Malley Kumar’s brother speaks to the crowd. Heartbreaking 💔
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My debut on @politicseastmid . Reporting on a busy few weeks which saw Nottingham hospitals maternity bosses criticised for pace of improvement & yet more calls for a public inquiry . Full report:
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Not so clever to book a holiday for election week…. Soaking up the Greek sun while I can before heading home on Thursday for election madness!!😆
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Best day ever meeting the new @nottsfire dog Barney 🐶🔥 He’ll be working alongside the famous Dexter @MidsDog once he finishes training in two weeks time!. (The little fire boots🥹)
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A Derby family who were told their mum had 'hours to live' said their goodbyes in full PPE - before she made a 'miraculous' recovery from coronavirus🎉. She celebrated her 90th birthday on Sunday at home after a two-month battle with the disease. Story to follow @derbyshire_live.
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Logging off for two weeks of backpacking around Thailand 🇹🇭🤩. First stop Bangkok, tips welcome!.
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Good to see my interview with @MichaelPayneUK on the BBC . "This wasn't a slip of the tongue. This was an open outright personal attack on social media from someone in a senior position"👇.
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Thrilled to find out I've been nominated for an Inspiring Local Journalism award!. In very good company with the brilliant @JoeLocker96🥰.
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I’ve been watching a lot of Bake Off recently so thought I’d make some sausage dog shaped cookies today 👀
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Today marks two years as a reporter with @derbyshire_live!✨ Here are a few best bits ft a very serious bike ride.
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Excited to say I'll be on TV reporting for the BBC this Sunday on @politicseastmid! . 10am on BBC1📺.
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Worrying news for myself & colleagues this morning. regional journalism has never been as important as it is right now. .
Mirror publisher Reach to cut 550 jobs in response to massive Covid-19 revenue hit. Plans for some merging of national and regional editorial teams to 'remove duplication'
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🗳️🚨BREAKING: The Labour Party now has enough seats to gain control of Broxtowe Borough Council for the first time since 2003 . Labour has gained 23 seats (so far) of a total 44.
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A 104-year-old who has been discharged from hospital after having coronavirus has now survived two world wars, recessions and a global pandemic🙌. She's one of the oldest people in the UK to recover from the disease. @derbyshire_live.
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My story on @bbcemt - the irony of a tree which was set to be felled being up for @WoodlandTrust's 'Tree of the Year'🌳.
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At the weekend we picked up our 8 week old pup, Obi 🐶 . Chief sleep stealer and puppy dog eyes extraordinaire…love him so much already!
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Some nice news: A grandad-of-six has left the Royal Derby Hospital to a huge round of applause from staff after a 43 day battle with coronavirus. ➡️Story to follow @derbyshire_live.
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🧵THREAD: What I got up to in Parliament yesterday. and how I turned it into content for TV, radio, online and BBC Sounds (alongside incredible colleagues!)💫. psa I'm sharing a lot more on my new work Instagram @annawhittakerbbc, give it a follow!
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This snow dog is not best pleased that I dragged him outside for pics⛄️
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Very excited to be nominated for Newcomer of the Year at this year’s Midlands Media Awards!😁.
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Well this is lovely @200Degs ☕️ . (Especially because it’s absolutely chucking it down out there)
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His inspiring words are played to thousands of people before every Derby County game!🐏 @JMThras @dcfcofficial #dcfc #DCFCfans .
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Such sad news this evening. Manjeet Singh Riyat was a hugely accomplished and well-loved consultant at the Royal Derby Hospital.
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My first week as journalist: Modelled Derby’s new Ebikes, taste-tested every McDonald’s in the city. and a front page story about a man who has grown a record-breaking 49-inch cucumber in his back garden in Normanton. What a week!
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Thank you for the lovely piece @journalism_news🌟. I spoke to the lady involved earlier this week and she is still absolutely over the moon about this!.
New on HTFP today: Woman wins thousands owed by ‘cowboy builders’ thanks to @derbyshire_live's @journoanna_.
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I've spent the last few weeks speaking to families and campaigners in a small town in Notts where seven young men have died by suicide in two years. Locals want to turn Ollerton into 'the town that talks'. Help is out there💙
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EXCL: A woman claims Nottinghamshire Police 'closed ranks' when she reported rape and abuse by a serving police officer . I've spent the last two months investigating this piece for @Notts_TV and the LDR service. 1/.
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