The West Highland Free Press has won Newspaper of the Year at the Highland and Islands Media Awards.

The paper will receive a cheque for £500 to be donated to a charity of the its choice.

The newspaper caught the eye of the judges with its all round coverage of news, features, comment and sports.

The West Highland Free Press was also judged to have demonstrated the best use of journalism on the web and their editorial staff featured prominently in the individual list of prize winners.

Meanwhile, Alasdair Campbell was the first winner of the Bord na Gaidhlig Award for best Gaelic entry.

The awards have a total prize fund of £2,200 this year and will be presented by Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, MSP, at a press ball on February 1, in Nairn.

The winners were:

Newspaper of the Year
West Highland Free Press, Broadford, Skye

Community Newspaper of the Year
Chatterbox, produced in Avoch, for the communities of Avoch, Fortrose, Killen, Munlochy and Rosemarkie. The paper will receive a cheque for £300, £100 of which will go to a local charity.

Local Reporter of the Year
Winner – Chris Saunderson, Northern Scot
Highly Commended: Calum Ross, Inverness Courier

Young Journalist of the Year and the Alex Main Trophy
Winner – Euan Paterson, Oban Times
Highly Commended – Andy Dixon, Inverness Courier

Reporter of the Year and the Jim Love Memorial Trophy
Winner – Keith Mackenzie, West Highland Free Press
Highly Commended: Claire Doughty, Highland News

Feature Writer of the Year
Winner – Murray MacLeod, West Highland Free Press
Highly Commended – Keith Mackenzie, West Highland Free Press

Sportswriter of the Year
Winner – Alasdair Fraser, Freelance
Highly Commended – Eric MacKinnon, Stornoway Gazette

Bord Na Gaidhlig Award for best Gaelic entry
Winner – Alasdair Campbell, West Highland Free Press
Highly Commended – Joy Dunlop, Connel, Argyll

Best Use of Journalism on the Web
Winner – West Highland Free Press
Highly Commended – Steve Mackenzie, BBC

Local Newspaper Photographer of the Year
Winner – Ken Amer, Orkney Today
Highly Commended – Keith Morrison, Shetland Times

Photographer of the Year
Winner – Willie Urquhart, West Highland Free Press
Highly Commended – Alistair Allan, Scottish Provincial Press

Journalist of the Year will be announced at the press ball.