Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
13
Mar 2024
Meet the team - Tim Flanagan, Ripon's senior journalist
For the next few weeks, we’re introducing you to the team behind The Stray Ferret.
This time, we're featuring Tim Flanagan, Ripon's senior journalist.
With nearly two decades worth of experience covering news across the North Yorkshire region, Tim certainly is no stranger to breaking an exclusive story or two.
His career began in 1977 at Ackrill Newspapers Group, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become chief reporter at the Harrogate Advertiser.
Despite his patch always having covered Ripon, Harrogate and the surrounding areas, journalism has taken Tim to some unexpected places, in pursuit of stories.
He said:
After working for a time in public relations and corporate communications, he returned to reporting news when he joined The Stray Ferret in 2020 as a senior journalist.
Primarily covering Ripon, Tim often jokes that he’s ‘the ferret on the ground’, utilising his knowledge as a resident to report on the pressing issues that matter to local people.
He explained:
With a passion for community-led stories, he’s previously explored the changing nature of the high street and extensively covered every update surrounding the controversial Ripon Cathedral annexe development.
Tim has extensively covered Ripon Cathedral annexe developments
While working for The Stray Ferret, he hasn’t had to make any more work trips abroad – but he’s still covered some international stories that have unlikely connections to North Yorkshire.
Tim said:
As one of the first journalists hired when The Stray Ferret was launched, Tim is particularly proud to be a part of the publication’s growth and development.
He also expressed how much he likes working with the team, especially with the younger members so he can share his tips and tricks – although according to him, that’s ‘most of the other writers’.
He’s a lifelong resident of Yorkshire, and previously lived for 39 years in Harrogate, making him a passionate advocate for the area – indeed, he believes that Ripon has ‘some of the finest walks you will find anywhere’.
Discussing how he spends his free time, Tim added:
If you think you’ve got a story that might be of interest to Tim, you can email him at tim@thestrayferret.co.uk.
0