Deborah's series of articles about problems at Doncaster College and with the borough's wider Education City scheme has earned her a place as a finalist in the regional/local category of Chartered Institute for Public Relations (CIPR) Education Journalist of the Year Awards.

Deborah repeatedly used Freedom of Information laws to uncover details of lavish spending of public money including a private jet chartered at a cost of £1,500 to take elected mayor Martin Winter to a meeting.

The prizes, open to print and broadcast journalists, will be presented at a ceremony hosted at the House of Commons by Liberal Democrat Bob Russell MP on October 9. The winner will receive £500 and runner-up £150.

The awards are organised by the CIPR Education and Skills Group – a professional network of over 250 members, representing communications and PR professionals across the education and skills sector.

Deborah was joint recipient of the 2007 Paul Foot Award for Investigative Journalism for her work around Education City.

She commented: "It is wonderful to have my work recognised in this way by an expert judging panel and I am very much looking forward to the presentation evening at the House of Commons."