Denny Andonova

Established in 1748, The Press and Journal is one of the world's oldest newspapers and a trusted voice for the north of Scotland. Serving communities from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to Moray, Inverness, the Highlands and Islands, we deliver journalism across print and digital platforms, covering everything from politics, business and energy to healthcare, farming, education and the issues shaping everyday life. Our role goes beyond reporting the news. We hold decision-makers to account, investigate wrongdoing, celebrate local achievements and give people a platform to share their experiences. We serve residents, families, businesses and community organisations, helping readers understand the decisions affecting their lives while ensuring the north's voice is heard nationally. What makes the P&J different is the depth of our connection to the communities we cover. Our long history is matched by a determination to remain relevant, champion local concerns and turn journalism into meaningful action. By combining reporting, reader experiences and political scrutiny, we aim not simply to highlight problems, but to help deliver solutions. At its heart, The P&J exists to inform, represent and champion the north — connecting communities, holding power to account and helping shape the region's future.

The City team is where Aberdeen's biggest stories meet the people whose lives they affect. Our job is to look beyond the headlines, scrutinise decisions made in the council chamber, investigate problems facing residents and businesses, and ask difficult questions about the city's future. Behind that work is a team of journalists bringing different strengths, contacts and perspectives to the table. Under Ben Hendry's leadership, we combine breaking news with investigations, in-depth features and sustained campaigns, sharing ideas and challenging one another to find stronger angles and get to the heart of an issue. Our bus gates coverage demonstrates the persistence local journalism demands, while projects such as Surviving and Thriving show our commitment to telling stories that go beyond the daily news cycle. These projects require more than individual bylines: they depend on collaboration, strong editorial judgement and a shared determination to see stories through. What unites us is our investment in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. We celebrate the people making a difference, but we are equally willing to confront uncomfortable truths, challenge those in power and keep pursuing answers when the easy option would be to move on. We measure our work not only in stories published, but in the questions we force people to answer, the voices we amplify and the difference our journalism can make.

I began my career at The Press and Journal just a month after graduating from university in 2020, entering journalism in the middle of a pandemic. Learning to cover communities I couldn't physically reach, building a network of contacts from scratch and finding my feet from home was far from easy. But armed with Google Maps, a telephone and determination, I set out to earn people's trust and find stories that mattered. My first splash, in December 2020, exposed scammers exploiting a Fraserburgh funeral director's address to con families buying Christmas presents for their children. Since then, my work has taken me from lambing a ewe with my bare hands to show the realities of farming in Aberdeenshire, to covering the Queen's death with an exclusive interview with her Reverend at Crathie Kirk, beside Balmoral. I have reported on Aberdeen's energy future, the NHS and the issues shaping our communities. I was also the last journalist to interview Jamie Reid, the artist behind the Sex Pistols' iconic album artwork, before his death. One career highlight was securing an exclusive interview with Garreth Wood in tribute to his father, Sir Ian Wood — the only interview the family gave collectively in his memory, with national and international reach. Yet the moments that have shaped me most are often the quietest. Knocking on the door of a family who has lost a loved one is one of journalism's hardest tasks. It demands sensitivity and empathy, but there is nothing more rewarding than knowing your work has helped a family find closure or simply feel heard. From trainee reporter to Political Editor, my journey has taught me that journalism demands total commitment: long hours, weekends and everything you have to give. Six years on, it still feels as though I've only just begun. The stories have changed, my responsibilities have grown, but my motivation remains the same: to find the heart of a story and make it matter.