These two reports are taken from the Bristol Evening Post, May 27, 2010:

Laurie Mason

APIONEERING journalist who helped launch the BBC's Points West programme has passed away, aged 86.

Laurie Mason was born in Weston-super-Mare in 1923, and was working on the local newspaper by the time he was 16 years old.

He joined BBC Bristol in 1952 and was news editor for the south and west by the mid-1960s.

Mr Mason's career saw him broadcast from Vietnam and work in Malawi, showing the locals how to solve the problems of radio news – a job many BBC editors did in Commonwealth countries.

Back home he was keen to foster new talent, and helped launch the careers of former war correspondent Katie Adie and former BBC News presenter Michael Buerk.

Mr Mason was married to Joan and they had two sons. Barnaby Mason followed in his father's footsteps and became a diplomatic correspondent for the BBC World Service, while William Mason performed bass with the Linz opera in Austria.

The couple had four grandchildren and three great grandchildren during their 58-year marriage.

Mrs Mason, a pianist, passed away in 2002.

Barnaby Mason said: "Although he was first and foremost a journalist, he was also a good manager of people. He encouraged young journalists and producers and was always ready to help people."

Mr Mason's funeral is due to be held tomorrow, and is open to friends and family. There will be a short service at South Bristol Crematorium at 4.30pm, followed by a memorial service at Barrow Gurney Church at 5pm

The pioneer who helped make the news we watch

TRIBUTES have been paid to a pioneering journalist who helped discover some of the biggest names in television news.

Laurie Mason worked with the likes of Kate Adie and Michael Buerk in their early careers and has been described as a "pioneer of regional TV news" by BBC colleagues.

He passed away on Saturday, May 16, in Barrow Gurney, aged 86.
Mr Mason began his career in journalism just three days after he left Barrow Gurney School in 1939.

The 16-year-old finished school on the Friday and was a reporter at a newspaper in his home town of Weston-super-Mare by Monday.

He joined BBC Bristol in 1952 and was news editor for the south and west by the mid-1960s.

There he controlled television and radio news for Plymouth and Southampton as well as Bristol.

His work also took him overseas, including making a national TV programme on a children's hospital in Vietnam, and spending 12 months in central Africa helping Malawi with radio news.

Former colleague and former Points West presenter Peter Brown said: "He had all the virtues, he was amiable, efficient and had good banter.

"He was the sort of bloke managers ought to be. He was a good man."

Mr Mason was married to Joan, a pianist who suffered from polio, and they had two sons.

Barnaby Mason became a diplomatic correspondent for the BBC World Service while William Mason performed with the Linz opera in Austria.

The couple were married for 58 years until Mrs Mason passed away in 2002.

Barnaby Mason said: "He did play an important part in establishing TV news in the South West when he worked for the BBC.

"He was a firm advocate and believer in accurate journalism and the scrupulous reporting of acts.

"Although he was first and foremost a journalist, he was also a good manager of people.

"He encouraged young journalists and producers and was always ready to help people in their careers."

Lucio Mesquita, the BBC's head of region, West: "Laurie Mason was a BBC pioneer of regional television news in Britain and we have a lot to thank him for those first steps which led to the success of today's regional programmes, such as Points West, Spotlight and South Today.

"He also played an important role in nurturing and developing major television talents, including Michael Buerk and Kate Adie.

"He retired from the BBC in 1978 after nearly 25 years in the corporation.

"Although I never had the opportunity to work with Laurie, I enjoyed working with his son, Barnaby Mason – the BBC World Service's now retired diplomatic correspondent."