Trained on the Preston Polytechnic NCTJ course (1976-77) before becoming a reporter at the Stockport Express (1977-80). He was appointed editor at Messenger Newspaper – South Manchester (1980-7), then assistant group editor of the Advertiser Series, Dorset, (1987-91), editor of the New Forest Post (1992-4), then editor of the NFP, Southampton Advertiser and Solent Advertiser (1994-6) and later executive editor, Free Newspapers, Southern Region, Southern Newspapers (1996-8).
He became editor of the Daily Echo and Dorset Advertiser Series in 1998.
He is also a former Manchester City FC Schoolboy and captain of England Public Schools.

Began her newspaper career as a paste-up artist before training as a reporter at Westminster Press Training Centre under the guidance and tutelage of Peter Sands and Robin Thompson. She got first job as a reporter on the Evening Echo Basildon and Southend, Essex in 1990 and was later seconded to UK News in Leicester. After returning to the Echo she was promoted through the ranks to eventually reach deputy editor.
She left in 1997 to join Kent Messenger Group as a page designer before becoming news editor for Dartford Messenger and then editor for Gravesend Messenger, Dartford Messenger and Swanley Messenger.

Nigel started in press photography 20 years ago working on weekly newspapers on the south coast before moving to The Argus where he spent five years on the picture desk. He left to set up the photographic department at John Connor Press Associates, where award-winning photographers take pictures for the national press, magazine and a number of corporate clients.

Former BBC local radio and regional TV reporter and presenter Karen began her journalism career as a reporter on evening and weekly local papers and is an experienced CIPR-approved media trainer.

EDF Energy’s Claire Byrd completes the judging line-up. She is a former news editor and assistant editor of The Argus, in Brighton, and is now heading up EDF Energy’s regional media activity across the country.

The judging panel will decide on:

– Print Journalist of the Year (Daily)
– Print Journalist of the Year (Weekly)
– Radio Journalist of the Year
– Television Journalist of the Year
– Newcomer of the Year
– Daily Newspaper of the Year
– Weekly Newspaper of the Year (Paid-for)
– Weekly Newspaper of the Year (Free)
– Front Page of the Year
– Radio News/Current Affairs Programme of the Year
– Television News/Current Affairs Programme of the Year
– Website of the Year
– Feature Writer of the Year
– News Photographer of the Year
– Sports Journalist of the Year
– Business Journalist of the Year
– Environmental Journalist of the Year
– Community Campaign of the Year
– Columnist of the Year

The awards presentation event itself will be held in January at the Suffolk Showground.

The awards take in newspapers and broadcasters in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and parts of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire