A REPORTER who launched his journalism career at the Jersey Evening Post has won a British Press Award.

Stephen Foley (33), who is now based in New York as the Independent’s US business correspondent, beat competition from seven other people to take the Business and Finance Journalist of the Year award, at the recent ceremony.

‘I was surprised and delighted to win an award like this, something I think business reporters all hope we’ll win at some point in our careers but never really expect to,’ said Mr Foley. ‘I’m especially chuffed to have won it this year of all years, when business and financial news has moved from the specialist sections to the newspapers’ front pages.

‘The crisis that has engulfed the financial system this past year, and has now spread throughout the entire world economy, will almost certainly be the biggest story I ever cover, and I am privileged to be watching it from here, at its epicentre on Wall Street. I’m also privileged to have some inspirational editors at The Independent, as I have had throughout my career.’

Mr Foley worked at the JEP in the mid-1990s, during his year out. He then went on to study history at Cambridge University’s Kings College, before taking a journalism course in London.

After briefly working for Sky News’s website, he joined the Independent’s team in 1999. He worked in a number of roles, including stock market reporter, and then became their US business correspondent three years ago.

The annual awards are organised by the Press Gazette, and take place in London. In the Business and Finance Journalist of the Year category, Mr Foley was up against journalists from the Guardian, the Financial Times and the Mail.

‘The awards ceremony in London was a real celebration of our industry,’ he said. ‘Of course we made all the usual Titanic jokes – this is a tough time for newspapers, and journalists are a pathologically pessimistic bunch, even when we’re dressed up for a gala dinner – but actually there has been as much great journalism done this past year as ever.

‘It was great to spend a bit of time back in London and catch up with colleagues and rivals, but I was on a plane returning to New York the very next day, and this year is shaping up to be just as busy and eventful as the last. I wouldn’t have it any other way, of course.’

• Picture: Stephen Foley receives his award from television journalist Jon Snow