THIRD generation journalist Harry Hesp, of Roadwater, came second in his category at last night's Guardian Media Awards.

Harry was in London having been short-listed for the prestigious awards in a UK-wide competition – and that was after he’d picked up his first class honours degree in broadcast journalism at the University of Gloucester last week.

The 22-year-old 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, was the County Gazette’s West Somerset and Exmoor reporter for 40 years, and his father Martin is senior staff writer at the Western Morning News and a broadcaster.

Harry hopes to focus on broadcasting, 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.”

Away from the beautiful game, it was a three and a half minute documentary on West Somerset mud-horse fisherman Brendan Sellick and his son Adrian that took Harry to the Guardian Media Award gala dinner where he picked up second prize.

“Being short-listed to the final five for my documentary was like winning the British media equivalent of the Oscars,” he added.