The countdown to the EDF Energy South West Media Awards 2011, benig held in association with HoldtheFrontPage, has begun.

Journalists from across the region, including writers, photographers, radio and television staff, will be invited to enter the awards from next week, with the entry form downloadable from this site.

So now is the time to check your cuttings, footage and files from the past year to see if you’ve got what it takes to be a winner.

Individual award winners will receive a £100 cheque, as well as a certificate and trophy, and all those shortlisted, along with their guests, will be invited to a celebration presentation event, courtesy of EDF Energy.

These free-to-enter awards, now in their seventh year in the region, honour the best in journalism across the South West – an area comprising Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

There are 20 categories to choose from, covering daily and weekly newspapers, designers and broadcasters. Only material published between 23 February 2010 and 27 February 2011 will be eligible for the awards.

The individual categories are:

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
Feature Writer of the Year
Designer of the Year
News Photographer of the Year
Sports Journalist of the Year
Business Journalist of the Year
Environmental Journalist of the Year
Columnist of the Year

Categories for newspapers and broadcasting companies are:

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
Community Campaign of the Year

Entrants can submit work for as many categories as they wish in this competition but each must be accompanied by a separate entry form and approved by their editor.

If you have any questions or queries about the awards or the event itself, please e-mail Paul Linford at HTFP or Becky Clark at EDF Energy.