The top five stories from the second half of the year and how PA Media covered them

Pete Clifton

Pete is Editor-in-Chief at PA Media

The top five stories from the second half of the year and how PA Media covered them

By Pete Clifton 18/12/2023

Earlier this year, PA Media’s Editor-in-Chief Pete Clifton shared the top five stories for the first half of 2023, and how PA covered them.

Now as 2023 draws to a close – Pete reflects on the top five stories from the second half of the year.

Rushing for Rishi – Five stories in our top 10 for the second half of the year were about the Prime Minister and his senior ministers, underlining the brilliant work of our unstoppable team at Westminster.

Picture of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addressing members of the RAF, Army and Navy. — Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a visit to RAF Lossiemouth military base in Moray, Scotland, to praise members of the RAF, Army and Navy who will spend time away from their families this Christmas while on duty. Picture by: Jeff J Pitchell/PA

Going down a storm – Weather stories always perform well for us, and Storm Babet had our Scotland journalists taking on the worst of the elements to capture all the drama for words, pictures and video.

Picture of a neighbourhood based in Retford, Nottinghamshire that was affected by Storm Babet in 2023. — Flooding in Retford in Nottinghamshire, after Storm Babet battered the UK. Urgent investment is needed to ensure the “dangerously overstretched” fire service is prepared for flooding in future, following the devastation of Storm Babet, according to firefighters’ leaders. Picture by: Joe Giddens/PA

Lucy Letby – The child serial killer will spend the rest of her life in jail for ‘evil’ crimes, and our north west team – led by Kim Pilling – were in court throughout the 10 month trial to accurately report the proceedings.

Janet Moore, the family liaison officer, speaking to the media outside Manchester Crown Court after nurse Lucy Letby, 33, was found guilty of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2023. — Janet Moore, the family liaison officer, speaking to the media outside Manchester Crown Court after nurse Lucy Letby, 33, was found guilty of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Letby was accused of the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of another ten, between June 2015 and June 2016 while working on the neonatal unit of hospital. Picture by: Steve Allen/PA

Dublin riots – The violence that erupted after a stabbing in the Ireland capital was a reminder that PA’s journalists can face personal danger as they report from breaking news events.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee speaks to the media about riots in Dublin that took place in 2023, after a Cabinet meeting at Government Buildings. — Minister for Justice Helen McEntee speaks to the media about riots in Dublin after a Cabinet meeting at Government Buildings. Picture by: Grainne Ni Aodha/PA

Huw Edwards to receive in-patient hospital care – The statement from the BBC news anchor’s wife, confirming his name and revealing his hospital treatment, came to PA. If someone wants an important statement widely distributed, they know they can trust PA.

Media outside BBC Broadcasting house, in central London, after presenter Huw Edwards was named by his wife Vicky Flind as the BBC presenter suspended following allegations that he paid a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit images in a statement issued on his behalf. The Metropolitan Police has said no criminal offence has been committed by the presenter. Picture by: James Manning/PA

Learn more about PA Media’s news coverage here: pa.media/news