The EDF Energy London and South of England Media Awards 2012 open for entry today with two new categories on offer.

The awards, held in association with HoldtheFrontPage, now include  prizes for Specialist Journalist of the Year and Digital Journalist of the Year.

Now in their eighth year, the awards honour the best in journalism across the London and the South of England – an area comprising Dorset, Hampshire, Kent, East and West Sussex, Surrey, the wider London area and Berkshire.

Entry forms need to be completed and returned to HoldtheFrontPage by 5pm on Friday 3 August 2012.  You can download the entry form here

Last year’s winners included The News, Portsmouth, which won four awards, and the Southern Daily Echo which won three including Daily Newspaper of the Year.

The new Specialist Journalist and Digital Journalist of the Year categories replace Environmental and Business .

The specialist category is open to newspaper, broadcast or web journalists who report on any specialist subject for regional or local publications or broadcasters, for example politics, education, crime, business, environment and health but not sport which remains a separate category of its own.

Digital Journalist of the Year is an award for journalists who use creative and innovative ways to reach and engage with audiences through one or more digital platforms for regional or local publications or broadcast media.

Only material published between 27 June 2011 and 24 June 2012 will be eligible.

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

There are 20 categories to choose from, covering daily and weekly newspapers, designers and broadcasters.

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
Digital Journalist of the Year
Specialist 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

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

 All entries should be sent (by 5pm, Friday 3 August 2012) to:

Paul Linford
HoldtheFrontPage
Northcliffe House
Meadow Road
Derby
DE1 2BH

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.