By Sarah Lagan
The
Lincolnshire Echo has been named Regional Newspaper of the Year at the
Newspaper Society’s circulation, editorial and promotions awards.
Described
as a “bold campaigning paper”, judges commented on the Echo’s ability
to come up with innovative ideas in a quiet news patch.
Editor
Michael Sassi said: “The paper has a fantastic team of the brightest,
most enthusiastic, most dedicated staff – the award’s for them. They
feel a sense of belonging to the newspaper and that shows in their
work.”
The Western Morning News and Evening Times in Glasgow were both highly commended.
The
Sunday Mercury’s Jeanette Oldham was named Journalist of the Year and
Press Gazette’s Student Journalist of the Year, Rhodri Phillips, of The
Journal in Newcastle, was named Young Journalist of the Year.
Alison
Hastings, media commentator and one of the judges, said the campaigning
newspaper of the year and journalist categories were particularly
strong this year. She said: “It was great to see so many papers
fighting on behalf of their readers.”
The Evening Times was
winner of the Campaigning Daily Newspaper of the Year for its Save
Queen Mother’s Hospital from Closure campaign. The North Shropshire
Chronicle won the weekly category for its Sink or Swim campaign to stop
the closure of a swimming pool. Judges said the Evening Times “shone by
galvanising support from the community”.
Other winners included:
community newspaper (daily and Sundays): Lancashire Evening Post: True
Colours of Islam; community newspaper (weekly): The Kent and Sussex
Courier: Heart of the Community Campaign; photographer: Simon Hulme:
Yorkshire Post; young photographer: Anthony Chappel-Ross, Evening
Press, York; design and layout: Western Daily Press; regional
newspaper: certificates of merit to the Nottingham Evening Post and
Gloucestershire Echo; regional magazine: Let’s Talk and Norfolk Afloat
were joint winners.
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