Entries for the 2013 Society of Editors’ Regional Press Awards due to open on Friday with the best of British regional and local journalism to be honoured at a ceremony in London in May.

Held in association with HoldtheFrontPage and the Press Association, the awards aim to celebrate regional and local journalism in print and on corresponding digital platforms.

This year’s awards ceremony and lunch will take place at the at the London Lancaster Hotel on Friday 16 May 2014 at the conclusion of Local Newspaper Week.

Registration and entries for the awards will open on Friday at www.theregionalpressawards.org.uk and close on 7.  The £25 entry fee has been frozen for the third successive year.

The number of digital awards has been increased to three with the addition of a Blog of the Year category.

Paul Horrocks, SoE President in 2007 and former editor of the Manchester Evening News will again head the panel of judges, with shortlists due to be published  in mid-April.

Society of Editors Executive director, Bob Satchwell, said: “Once again we are delighted to be hosting the main awards ceremony honouring the diverse array of regional and local newspaper journalism that is so highly regarded up and down the the UK.

“Last year’s entries showed, yet again, the value that regional and local newspapers bring to their communities and we look forward to reading the amazing range of campaigns, investigations and quality journalism that makes so much difference to the lives of their readers.”

As well as HTFP and the PA, the awards are held in conjunction with the Newspaper Society and Camelot which has supported the Society of Editors since 2001.

In addition to providing general support for the event, HoldtheFrontPage will again by sponsoring the Young Journalist of the Year category, won last year by Richard Wheatstone of the Manchester Evening News.

Publisher Paul Linford said:  “These awards represent the very best of regional journalism and we are We are proud to continue our association with them this year.”

The full list of categories together with entry criteria are as follows.

YOUNG JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Open to journalists aged 26 or under on 31 December 2013 who have not previously been shortlisted for this award. Entries may include work from any journalistic discipline. Judges will be working for the individual who has made significant impact over the year.

BUSINESS AND FINANCE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

For reporters and commentators covering all aspects of business and personal finance. Judges will be looking for the ability to break stories and explain issues to a general audience.

SPECIALIST WRITER OF THE YEAR

For journalists with specialisms not covered by any other category such as science, education, health, motoring, the environment and politics. The judges will look for journalists who break stories, analyse and explain their subject for a wider audience.

FEATURE WRITER OF THE YEAR

Quality of writing is paramount. Judges will be looking for journalists who demonstrate a compelling style in news reportage, colour writing, analysis and backgrounders.

COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR

Entrants should have a regular by-lined column. The winner will be a journalist with a special style and the ability to provoke debate that may annoy as much as delight.

BLOG OF THE YEAR

This is an award for any journalist on a UK local or regional newspaper who writes a regular blog that is distributed by any digital means as opposed to being published in print editions.

WEEKLY SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Open to sports news writers, match reporters, feature writers and columnists on weekly newspapers. Entries may be from a variety of sports or one specialist area. Judges will be looking for good writing and agenda setting reporting.

DAILY/SUNDAY SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Open to sports news writers, match reporters, feature writers and columnists on daily newspapers. Entries may be from a variety of sports or one specialist area. Judges will be looking for good writing and agenda setting reporting.

WEEKLY REPORTER OF THE YEAR

The category for weekly newspaper reporters who provide the heart and soul of any newspaper. The judges will be looking for well-researched exclusives brilliantly told. Tenacity, flair, investigative skill and an ability to handle difficult subjects carefully will score highly. In the case of long-running investigations entrants may include up to three items to count as one story.

DAILY/SUNDAY REPORTER OF THE YEAR

The category for daily newspaper reporters who provide the heart and soul of any newspaper. The judges will be looking for well-researched exclusives brilliantly told. Tenacity, flair, investigative skill and an ability to handle difficult subjects carefully will score highly. In the case of long-running investigations entrants may include up to three items to count as one story.

WEEKLY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

News, sports and features pictures used in a weekly newspaper are eligible. Judges will look for versatility, technical skill and the ability to capture the picture that matters. The mood of an interview, subject or feature needs to come across strongly.

DAILY/SUNDAY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

News, sports and features pictures used in a daily newspaper are eligible. Judges will look for versatility, technical skill and the ability to capture the picture that matters. The mood of an interview, subject or feature needs to come across strongly.

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

An award for designers and graphic artists. Judges will look at finished pages that demonstrate innovate and skilled design and layout.

SUPPLEMENT OF THE YEAR

Entries will be judged on outstanding content, design, use of photography and readability of a supplement that is published at regular intervals or to mark a special event or achievement, either with the newspaper or clearly linked to a local or regional paper. The judges will need to see one hard copy of a special supplement or three different editions of a regular supplement.

FRONT PAGE OF THE YEAR

Judges will be looking for the outstanding and most memorable front page published in a regional or local newspaper during the year.

SCOOP OF THE YEAR

The story of series of stories that everyone else wished they had broken. This can be a team or individual award.

CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR

Judges will be looking for campaigns that made waves, struck a chord with readers and simply made a difference. This can be a team or individual award.

WEBSITE OF THE YEAR

The judges will look for excellent reporting, writing or flair and innovation in content, design and delivery and interaction with readers and will seek to recognise journalistic achievement online.

THE DIGITAL AWARD

The judges will look for the newspaper that produces the best journalism and service to readers on a range of platforms whether print, website, mobile or any other means. Special attention will be made to innovation and use of social media.

WEEKLY NEWSPAPER (BELOW 20,000) / WEEKLY NEWSPAPER (ABOVE 20,000)

Weekly newspaper of the year categories will be judged by panels of experienced senior journalists or former journalists from all parts of the media. They will consider the achievements of each of the entries across all platforms set out in submissions by editors. The judges will look for service to the local community, great exclusives and successful campaigns, editorial achievements and other outstanding journalism. Editors will be required to send in three different editions of their newspaper.

DAILY/SUNDAY NEWSPAPER (BELOW 25,000) / DAILY/SUNDAY NEWSPAPER (ABOVE 25,000)

Daily/Sunday Newspaper of the Year categories will be judged by panels of experienced senior journalists of former journalists from all parts of the media.  They will consider the achievements of each of the entries across all platforms set out in submissions by editors. The judges will look for service to the  local community, great exclusives and successful campaigns, editorial achievements and other outstanding journalism. Editors will need to provide three  different editions of their newspaper.