The deadline for entries to the EDF Energy South West Media Awards has been extended.

Organisers HoldtheFrontPage have agreed to accept entries up until next Thursday, May 12, to allow news staff kept busy by the General Election more time to take part.

But make sure all your entries have arrived by then because judging will take place on Monday, May 16.

The awards are free to enter.

They offer journalists the chance to win £100 if they top their category, and give all nominees the chance to take their colleagues for lunch and drinks, courtesy of the sponsors, at the presentation event on June 16.

Your newspaper, radio or television station can enter as many times as you wish.

The entry form can be printed out from:
www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk.

HTFP publisher Patrick Astill said: “We’ve received more than 100 entries so far, which we are very pleased about for these inaugural awards.

“But we are sure there must be more journalists out there, whether they write features, take pictures, design pages or concentrate on hard news, who are worthy contenders for these awards.

“And because it doesn’t cost anything apart from your stamp, and we’re only asking for one copy of each entry, it’s very simple to take part.

“You’ve got to be in it to win it, and now’s the time to send your entry in.”

These are the categories we are inviting entries for:

Print Journalist of the Year (Daily)
Open to all news reporters working for regional daily or Sunday newspapers.

Print Journalist of the Year (Weekly)
Open to all news reporters working for local paid-for or free weekly newspapers.

Radio Journalist of the Year
For reporters and broadcasters in local or regional radio.

Television Journalist of the Year
For reporters and broadcasters in local or regional television.

Newcomer of the Year
We’re looking for the big journalism names of the future – reporters, photographers, broadcasters or designers who have been with a radio/TV station, regional newspaper, news agency or web publisher for under two years on April 1 2005.

Daily Newspaper of the Year
Open to all regionally-published daily and Sunday newspapers. Factors such as overall content and design, the newspaper’s involvement with its community, circulation and so on will all count.

Weekly Newspaper of the Year
Open to both frees and paid-fors. Criteria: the same as the Daily Newspaper category.

Front Page of the Year
For newspapers: we’re looking for impact, through design, pictures, headlines and the story.

Radio News/Current Affairs Programme of the Year
For editors, producers, presenters, journalists and technicians working for local or regional radio stations. We are looking for an outstanding regular news programme or one-off news special, in-programme feature package or documentary.

Television News/Current Affairs Programme of the Year
For editors, producers, presenters, journalists and technicians working for local or regional television stations. We are looking for an outstanding regular news programme or one-off news special, in-programme feature package or documentary.

Website of the Year
Open to local and regional media who publish regularly on the Internet. Design, content, topicality, ease of use and interactivity will all count.

Feature Writer of the Year
A chance for writers to demonstrate their skills.

News Photographer of the Year
For photography staff – staffers, freelances and news/picture agencies contributing primarily to newspapers – to demonstrate the key role they play in illustrating the news. The emphasis is on news pictures, but entry portfolios can include photographs to accompany feature articles.

Sports Journalist of the Year
Open to newspaper, broadcast or web journalists who report or comment on sport for regional or local publications, TV or radio programmes or websites.

Business Journalist of the Year
A specialist section for all those who write or broadcast regularly about business and/or industry.

Environmental Journalist of the Year
For all those who write or broadcast regularly about environmental issues.

Community Campaign of the Year
We’re looking for the campaign that has inspired and connected with readers/viewers/listeners in the heart of the media’s local community.

Entries must be received by 5pm on Thursday, May 12, 2005. They should be sent to Patrick Astill, HoldtheFrontPage, NEP, Ground Floor, East Point, Cardinal Square, 10 Nottingham Road, Derby DE1 3QT.

The awards cover newspapers and broadcasters in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire and the presentation event will also raise money for the Newspaper Press Fund, which benefits journalists and their dependents in times of personal difficulty.