Article from the Maidenhead Advertiser Friday 7th June:
Former Advertiser and Express editor Martin Trepte has been awarded a British Empire Medal for training young reporters and driving a number of major charitable campaigns.
Former Advertiser and Express editor Martin Trepte has been awarded a British Empire Medal for training young reporters and driving a number of major charitable campaigns.
 | Martin, 53, was editor for 20 years, having been promoted into the role after joining as a junior reporter in 1989. In his time at the helm, Martin, who lives in Woodley, created the annual Cash for Schools programme, which saw schools collect tokens published in the Advertiser to win part of a prize fund donated by this paper’s owner, the Louis Baylis Trust. Almost £200,000 was spent on local schools which went to educational resources like additional books or new laptops and playground equipment. |
He also helped establish the Cracker Appeal, which has run for more than 20 years and helps elderly people get the chance to socialise and enjoy a meal around Christmas. It has raised £250,000 since it started.
Martin had no idea he had been nominated for the award. “It came out of the blue,” he said. “I got a letter a few weeks ago. It was very unexpected. “I feel very honoured to be recognised with an award. It is a great honour.”
Martin was made news editor in the mid-Nineties before being promoted to deputy and then editor in 1997. He was a director at the paper from 2000.He spearheaded the Great Debate in 2006, which aimed to get people to talk about Maidenhead’s future. He has also been heavily involved in civic life. He has chaired the Maidenhead Carnival Committee, served as trustee of Maidenhead Civic Society and Maidenhead Talking Newspaper, and a member of the Rotary Club of Maidenhead.
He believed his award is a ‘reflection on the paper and the contribution to the community’ and said local papers are ‘part of the community’ and can ‘stand up’ for them. “Above all its a recognition and endorsement of the vital role local newspapers play in the communities they serve,” he said, adding: “In local papers you don’t really achieve anything as an individual. “Everything that gets done is the result of a team effort and I have been privileged to have always been surrounded by a great team here at the Advertiser.”
Martin gives talks and presentations, is called upon to judge competitions and has raised money for charity by running in the Maidenhead Half Marathon.
He now serves on the board at press regulator IPSO, which sets out a code of conduct and can take action against titles which breach its rules.
Martin had no idea he had been nominated for the award. “It came out of the blue,” he said. “I got a letter a few weeks ago. It was very unexpected. “I feel very honoured to be recognised with an award. It is a great honour.”
Martin was made news editor in the mid-Nineties before being promoted to deputy and then editor in 1997. He was a director at the paper from 2000.He spearheaded the Great Debate in 2006, which aimed to get people to talk about Maidenhead’s future. He has also been heavily involved in civic life. He has chaired the Maidenhead Carnival Committee, served as trustee of Maidenhead Civic Society and Maidenhead Talking Newspaper, and a member of the Rotary Club of Maidenhead.
He believed his award is a ‘reflection on the paper and the contribution to the community’ and said local papers are ‘part of the community’ and can ‘stand up’ for them. “Above all its a recognition and endorsement of the vital role local newspapers play in the communities they serve,” he said, adding: “In local papers you don’t really achieve anything as an individual. “Everything that gets done is the result of a team effort and I have been privileged to have always been surrounded by a great team here at the Advertiser.”
Martin gives talks and presentations, is called upon to judge competitions and has raised money for charity by running in the Maidenhead Half Marathon.
He now serves on the board at press regulator IPSO, which sets out a code of conduct and can take action against titles which breach its rules.