Printed Newham Voices newspapers in a display stand — ©Neandra Etienne

Indie News Week is the UK’s annual celebration of independent news. In 2026, we would like to give our readers the chance to celebrate Indie News Week by learning more about the people behind their local community newspaper and what goes into accurately covering local stories. Meet with our staff and some of our many valued contributors/volunteers:

Neandra Etienne, Chief Reporter and Culture Editor

Neandra is one of the founding team of writers for Newham Voices. She is our Chief Reporter and Culture Editor. Neandra’s reporting features prominently in all our work – covering local news, arts reporting, and also stories about the sporting lives and times of Newham residents. Her Out and About column is the go-to place to find out what’s happening, and where, across the Borough every month. She’s our primary contact for news on the cultural and creative life of Newham, both past and present.

Jean Gray, Managing Editor

Jean is our Managing Editor, the key person in keeping our editorial work up to standard. For almost 20 years she led the team at Nursing Standard, Britain’s leading journal for nurses and health workers. In the 1970s she worked as a journalist on local papers in Newham and East London. She also provided professional support to homeless people producing their own newspaper. She set up the unique Newham Voices training programme which has given our team of volunteers guidance and support in developing their journalistic skills.

Mickey Ambrose, Columnist

Mickey is a former professional footballer with Chelsea and Charlton. His monthly On The Ball column keeps a close eye on the ups (and downs) of West Ham Utd, but his talents also extend to media and social concerns. He is a formidable public speaker and has written powerful and challenging pieces on homelessness and inequality. His connections in parliament and in society – even royalty – give him unique insights and make him one of the most influential members of our editorial team as a champion of diversity and equal rights.

Aidan White, Editor and Founder

Aidan is the Editor and founder of Newham Voices. He worked on local papers in Newham in the 1970s and later for the Guardian. For 25 years he led the world’s largest journalist’s organisation based in Brussels and returned to Newham in 2013. He is a long-time campaigner against racism and supporter of local democracy. He’s responsible for management of the team of volunteers who produce the paper.

Shofa Miah, Contributor

Shofa is a local government professional and founder of the Forest Gate Charity Ashok’s Vision, promoting the rights and interest of young people. She has written on community actions and has, importantly, helped Newham Voices provide a space for young people to write and express themselves freely. Like other volunteers on our team, she is actively engaged in the life of the community.

Peter Landman, Contributor

Peter is based in East Ham. He is retired, but is a veteran Newham Voices journalist, reporting on news from the Town Hall. He writes a regular Council notebook. He is also an activist for rights of older people and reports regularly on the meetings of Newham’s Older People’s Reference Group. He is also deeply involved in community life and has worked closely with the project-based People’s Powered Places programme.

Simon Shaw, Contributor

Simon is a local teacher, community activist and writer on political and social affairs. He has written specifically on the rights of migrants and refugees. Prior to the recent elections he wrote profiles of political leaders. His insightful reporting helps readers make sense of an otherwise often confused and changing political landscape.

Newham Voices has 36 readers who are supporters of the work we do in covering local news and highlighting issues that are important to our community. We are independent, and we write the facts without bias. Can you spare £5 a month? Not much, but sometimes it is what we need. Newham Voices exists because our readers are backing us up. Join and support: newhamvoices.co.uk/membership

Indie News Week runs from the 15th until the 21st June 2026

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

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£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.