Praise for Charles...

Awards & Commendations

Best Limited Series (Shortlisted)
Publisher Podcast Awards 2021

Content of the Year
Archant Awards 2021

Weekly Reporter of the Year
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2020

Local Journalism Award (Shortlisted)
British Journalism Awards 2020

Making a Difference People's Choice Award (Shortlisted)
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2019

Paul Foot Award 2020 (Shortlisted)

Regional Press - Top Three
PressGazette Excellence in Reporting Coronavirus - April 2020

Weekly Newspaper Campaign of the Year
Society of Edtors Regional Press Awards 2019

Weekly Reporter of the Year (Highly Commended)
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2019

Campaigns and Investigations Award (Highly Commended)
MHP 30 to Watch Awards 2019

Weekly Reporter of the Year
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2018

Making a Difference People's Choice Award
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2018

Weekly Newspaper Campaign of the Year (Shortlisted)
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2018

Ray Fitzwalter Award for Investigative Journalism - 2018

Local Hero (Shortlisted)
British Journalism Awards 2018

Weekly Reporter of the Year (Highly Commended)
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2017

Weekly Reporter of the Year (Highly Commended)
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2016

Local Hero (Highly Commended)
British Journalism Awards 2016

Specialist Writer of the Year (Shortlisted)
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2015

Weekly Print Journalist of the Year
HoldTheFrontPage Regional Media Awards 2014

Campaign of the Year (Highly Commended)
HoldTheFrontPage Regional Media Awards 2014

Newcomer of the Year (Highly Commended)
HoldTheFrontPage Regional Media Awards 2012

Feature Writer of the Year (Special Commendation)
Guardian Student Media Awards 2009

Industry Comments

"Strong and hard-hitting... Jaw-dropping. Just what regional papers should be doing."
Judges, Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2020

"Already an award winner who refuses to give up... Tireless in his pursuit of justice, never thwarted by officialdom, a credit to his trade... Diligent and persistent work... First class and determined reporting."
Judges, Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2019

"Probably the best local hack around at the moment."
Meirion Jones, Bureau of Investigative Journalism, 2019

"I am a fan of Charles. He's a young guy having a great career and making a lot of noise. Reminds me of me way, way back in the dark ages. Like this guy a lot."
J Randy Taraborrelli, Author and Broadcaster

"Charles' work evidenced responsible reporting, confidence of contacts and readers, and consistently high journalism."
Judges, HoldTheFrontPage Regional Media Awards 2014

"A very good interviewer."
Linda Deutsch, Special Correspondent for Associated Press

"Thomson's articles and campaigns on environmental issues had a remarkable effect on improving England's most polluted area and prevented those in office from steamrolling local environmental issues. A classic example of how good, solid journalism gets results."
Judges, Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2015

"Charles Thomson has a good writing style and is a credit to his newsroom. He is also a livewire who at times must turn his editor's hair white."
Judges, HoldTheFrontPage Regional Media Awards 2012

Unfinished: Shoebury's Lost Boys Podcast

--Winner--
Weekly Reporter of the Year
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2020

--Winner--
Content of the Year
Archant Awards 2021

--Shortlisted--
Local Journalism Award
British Journalism Awards 2020

--Shortlisted--
Best Limited Series
Publisher Podcast Awards 2021

"A very compelling tale, skillfully told... The journalism and the interviewing was excellent."
Judges, Publisher Podcast Awards 2021

"Brilliant."
Leaf Arbuthnot, Mail on Sunday

"Excellent."
Judges, Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2020

"It really is very good and shocking in equal measure."
George Mann, BBC

"A compelling and shocking podcast that features a brave, tenacious and dedicated investigation... Remarkable."
Anthony Daly, Author of Playland: Secrets of a Forgotten Scandal

"One of the best things I've listened to in a long time... Compelling. Tenacious, thoughtful investigative journalism at its best."
Mike Sassi, Editor and journalist

"Can't recommend it enough. Masterclass in reporting... It's just brilliant."
Sarah Ward, Founder of NN Journal

"Paul Foot Award nominee Thomson provides a forensic, eight-part look into the twists and turns of his investigation into a historic paedophile ring cover-up."
Top Journalism podcasts of 2020, PressGazette

Shoebury Paedophile Ring Investigation

--Winner--
Weekly Newspaper Campaign of the Year
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2019

--Winner--
Weekly Reporter of the Year (Highly Commended)
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2019

--Winner--
Weekly Reporter of the Year
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2018

--Winner--
Making a Difference People's Choice Award
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2018

--Winner--
Ray Fitzwalter Award for Investigative Journalism - 2018

--Winner--
Campaigns and Investigations Award (Highly Commended)
MHP 30 to Watch 2019

--Winner--
Weekly Reporter of the Year (Highly Commended)
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2017

--Winner--
Weekly Reporter of the Year (Highly Commended)
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2016

--Winner--
Local Hero (Highly Commended)
British Journalism Awards 2016

--Shortlisted--
Local Journalism Award
British Journalism Awards 2020

--Shortlisted--
Paul Foot Award for Campaigning and Investigative Journalism 2020

--Shortlisted--
Local Hero
British Journalism Awards 2018

--Shortlisted--
Weekly Newspaper Campaign of the Year (Shortlisted)
Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2018

"Astonishing results... Underlines the dedication of the reporter and editor."
Ian Hislop, Paul Foot Award 2020

"If ever a story encapsulates why local journalism matters, and the challenges journalism faces, it's the five-year investigation into the Shoebury paedophile ring."
Behind Local News, 2020

"A powerful campaign which has required hours of investigative journalism. A wonderful example of tireless determination for greater transparency and justice for abuse victims. Diligent and persistent work... even more remarkable given the limited resources available. First class and determined reporting... Excellent investigative work in very difficult circumstances to cover a story with far-reaching ramifications. The covering of the story - the burning of files, the intervention of the Ministry of Justice, against a backdrop of the paper's closure - is a drama in itself. Excellent story."
Judges, Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2019

"Charles impressed judges with the depth of investigative journalism diplayed... An investigatory campaign into child sex abuse that required tenacity, intelligence and courage."
Judges, Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2018

"I thought this investigation was eye-poppingly clever."
Tom Giles, ITV controller of current affairs/Ray Fitzwalter Award judge

"He stood up to authority and his digging produced stories of real concern to his community."
Judges, Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2017

"Charles worked with a whistleblower to expose depravity and cover-ups. His entry was particularly impressive given the tight editorial resources on a free weekly local newspaper."
Judges, British Journalism Awards 2017

"A great example of public interest journalism. His dogged determination shone through."
Judges, Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2016

James Brown: The Lost Album

--Winner--
Feature Writer of the Year - Special Commendation Award
Guardian Student Media Awards 2009

"Fantastic - incredibly well researched, great quotes, great access and very well written. We thought it was the best piece of student journalism we'd read in a long time, if not ever."
Judge comment, Guardian Awards 2009

"The judges felt this exceptional piece of work should be recognised, remarking that the feature was 'an extraordinary sustained piece on James Brown, a poignant portrait of a man in his last days."
Judging Panel, Guardian Awards 2009

"A seminal piece of music journalism."
Tony Best, Wax Poetics

"Good job! It was right on. I don't even know how you got some of that info. Amazing."
Hollie Farris, Bandleader for James Brown

"Great job on the Brown story... An excellent read and very true."
Damon Wood, Guitarist for James Brown