Regional newspapers will battle it out for the top prizes at a media awards event which recognises excellence in news production.

The shortlist for the 2014 Newspaper Awards has been published and 14 regional dailies will compete for the title of regional newspaper of the year in two separate categories.

In the over 25,000 circulation category, those shortlisted are the Belfast Telegraph, Eastern Daily Press, Hull Daily Mail, The Irish News, The News (Portsmouth), The Press and Journal and the Western Morning News.

And the under 25,000 circulation group features the Cambridge News, Daily Echo, Dorset Echo, Gloucester Citizen, News & Star, Plymouth’s The Herald and The Journal in Newcastle.

The awards aim to recognise the best print and digital news media production and innovation across regional, national and international titles and winners will be announced at an event in London on 1 April.

Regional publisher Local World tweeted yesterday that it had received a total of 14 nominations in the awards.

In the weekend newspaper of the year category, the Eastern Daily Press and Sunday Herald are up against national newspapers including The Guardian, FT Weekend and the Sunday Times.

Six newspapers will compete to be named the weekly newspaper of the year and these are the Express & Echo in Exeter, Ham & High, MK News, The Hunts Post, The Impartial Reporter and The Oxford Times.

Also receiving shortlist places are a number of hyperlocal projects, including the Kentishtowner, Hackney Citizen, Peckham Peculiar and Lincolnite, which have been nominated in various categories.

Gary Cullum, director of the Newspaper Awards, said: “The 2014 panel of judges really had their work cut out this year. Not only were they presented with around 1,000 newspapers, both print and digital, the quality of entry was tremendous.

“The shortlist once again provides a showcase for all that is excellent in the newspaper industry both from this country and around the world.”

The full list of categories where regional newspapers have been nominated is:

Newspaper Printer of the Year – sponsored by Agfa

Archant Print – (MCN, Classic Car Weekly, Angling Times)
Guardian Print Centre (The Guardian, The Observer)
Interpress NI – (The Irish News, Down Recorder, The Impartial Reporter)
Newsprinters – (The Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, The Times)
St Clements Press ( Financial Times, Insurance Day, The Epoch Times)
West Ferry Printers (Sunday Express, Daily Express, Daily Star)

Regional Newspaper of the Year – sponsored by Goss International

Over 25,000 circulation

Belfast Telegraph
Eastern Daily Press
Hull Daily Mail
The Irish News
The News (Portsmouth)
The Press and Journal
Western Morning News

Under 25,000 circulation

Cambridge News
Daily Echo
Dorset Echo
Gloucester Citizen
News & Star
The Herald (Plymouth)
The Journal

Weekend Newspaper of the Year – sponsored by Aktrion Group

Eastern Daily Press
FT Weekend
The Daily Telegraph
The Guardian
The Independent on Sunday
The Sunday Times
Sunday Herald

Printed Innovation of the Year– sponsored by UPM

Caerphilly Observer – print edition
Express & Echo – XXXL poster
Freiburger Druck – varnished newspaper products
Guardian Print Centre – 6 colour printing
Lincolnshire Media – Past to Present supplement
Peckham Peculiar – hyperlocal newspaper
The Daily Telegraph – Cascade Creative

Weekly Newspaper of the Year – sponsored by WRH Marketing/Ferag

Express & Echo (Exeter)
Ham & High
MK News
The Hunts Post
The Impartial Reporter
The Oxford Times

Regional Supplement/Magazine of the Year – sponsored by Precision Colour Printing

Cambridge Magazine (Cambridge Newspapers)
Cornwall Today (Cornwall & Devon Media)
Norfolk (Archant East)
ES Magazine (Evening Standard)
The Journal (Lincolnshire Media)
Tynedale Life (Hexham Courant)
Weekend (Gloucestershire Media)

Coldset Colour Supplement of the Year – sponsored by Sun Chemical

Best of Liverpool (Liverpool Echo)
Life (The Sunday Telegraph)
Tech Monthly (The Observer)
Travel (The Daily Telegraph)
TV Magazine (The Sun)
Weekend (The Daily Telegraph)

Niche Market Newspaper of the Year – sponsored by Newsprinters

Farmers Guardian
Farm Week
First News
Hackney Citizen
Kentishtowner
MCN
The Catholic Herald

Digital Innovation of the Year – sponsored by Canon

Cornwall Today – website
Financial Times fastFT – market-moving news and views
Guardian Witness – digital journalism tool
MNA Star Witness – online reader platform
Sun+ – digital entertainment package
The Tab – university websites
Worldcrunch Impact – Solutions without borders

Digital News Service of the Year – sponsored by Drag+drop

belfasttelegraph.co.uk
ft.com/fastft
guardian.co.uk
ibtimes.co.uk
independent.co.uk
thelincolnite.co.uk
worldcrunch.com

Newspaper App of the Year – sponsored by PCS

Financial Times web app
Mail Plus
Newsquest Wales & Gloucestershire apps
Sun+
Sunday Herald Life app
The Times and Sunday Times tablet app