EDF Energy will soon be launching its third regional journalism awards contest for London and the South of England in association with HoldtheFrontPage.

After the success of last year’s event, where The Argus, Brighton, was named Daily Newspaper of the Year, the energy company is once again backing the region’s premier press awards.

The event is open to all journalists working in London, Dorset, Hampshire, East and West Sussex, Kent, and Surrey, with 20 categories up for grabs, including a new category of Designer of the Year.

Judges in this category will look for pages or spreads which demonstrate how a skilful layout or design can grab a reader and draw them into a story, or explain a complex situation simply.

The awards are open to television, radio and newspaper journalists. Magazine journalists who work for the regional press can also enter.

Last year’s awards attracted 250 entries from 57 publications and broadcasters. Other winners included the Hampshire Chronicle in the Weekly Paid-for newspaper category, and the Bexley Times in the Weekly Free category.

The competition is free to enter and there will be more details, together with an entry form, on HoldtheFrontPage next Monday (July 21).

All award winners will receive a certificate and individual journalists who top their category will receive a £100 prize.

The full list of categories is:

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

Designer 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

Broadcasters should note they are welcome to enter specialist categories such as Sports Journalist of the Year and Business Journalist of the Year as well as the dedicated broadcast categories.

All shortlisted nominees will be invited to a presentation ceremony in the autumn where lunch will be provided courtesy of EDF Energy, one of the largest energy companies in the UK.

The event will also raise money for The Journalists’ Charity, which helps journalists and their dependents in times of personal difficulty.

Entries must be from the year ending July 21, 2008, so check your cuttings library and get ready to enter!