The EDF Energy London and South of England Media Awards 2014 shortlist has been announced today with three South Coast dailies vying to become Newspaper of the Year.

The Daily Echo, Bournemouth, The News, Portsmouth and Southern Daily Echo are the shortlisted contenders in the daily newspaper category as the awards mark their 10th anniversary.

Held in association with Hold the Front Page, the awards aim to honour the best in journalism across London, Kent, East and West Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire and Dorset.

This year there were more than 300 entries, across 20 categories. A judging panel met in Bristol last week to sift through the entries and select the shortlisted contenders.

In the running for paid-for Weekly Newspaper of the Year are the Croydon Advertiser, Hampshire Chronicle, Kent Messenger and Kent and Sussex Courier.

Four titles are shortlisted for Weekly Free Newspaper, namely the Ascot, Windsor and Eton Express, Camden New Journal, Kent on Sunday and The Wharf.

Website of the Year contenders are www.bournemouthecho.co.uk www.dorsetecho.co.uk www.kentonline.co.uk and www.portsmouth.co.uk, while the Battle Observer, Kent Messenger, Kentish Gazette and Sevenoaks Chronicle contest the Campaign of the Year Award..

Paul Linford, editor of HoldtheFrontPage, said: “It is great to see the awards continuing to be so well supported across the London and South region. Congratulations to all who made it to this year’s shortlists.”

The awards ceremony will be held at the Brighton and Hove Albion Amex Stadium on Thursday November 13.

The full shortlist is as follows:

Newcomer of the Year

Alex Bellotti, Hampstead and Highgate Express
Sam Blewett, Romford Recorder
Sean-Paul Doran, Sevenoaks Chronicle
Ben Fishwick, The News, Portsmouth
Jo Gilbert, The East Grinstead Courier
Adrian Harms, BBC Surrey
Sebastian Mann, Ilford Recorder

Digital Journalist of the Year

Sam Bannister, The News, Portsmouth
Katie Clark, Daily Echo, Bournemouth
Gareth Davies, Croydon Advertiser
Richard Osley, Camden New Journal

Specialist Journalist of the Year

Sam Bannister, The News, Portsmouth
Lesley Bellew, Kent Messenger Group
Guy Lynn, BBC London
Tara Russell, Southern Daily Echo
Alex Winter, Daily Echo, Bournemouth

Sports Journalist of the Year

Neil Allen, The News, Portsmouth
Rags Mantell, ITV News London
Andy Steggall, Pergall Media / BBC South

Columnist of the Year

Giles Broadbent, The Wharf
Jordan Cross, The News, Portsmouth
Faith Eckersall, Daily Echo, Bournemouth
Paul Francis, Kent Messenger Group

Feature Writer of the Year

Lesley Bellew,  Kent Messenger Group
Alex Bellotti, Hampstead and Highgate Express
Gareth Davies, Croydon Advertiser
Sarah Linney, Kent on Sunday
Tara Russell, Southern Daily Echo

Designer of the Year

Ashley Austen, Kent Messenger Group
Beverley Crew, Southern Daily Echo
Lisa Daniels, Kent Messenger Group
Chris Hooper, Southern Daily Echo
Alex Leys, Croydon Advertiser
Emma Prentice, Brighton and Hove Independent

Photographer of the Year

Paul Collins, Southern Daily Echo
Liz Finlayson, The Argus
Stuart Martin, Southern Daily Echo

Radio Journalist of the Year

Michael Coombes, Wave 105
Vanessa Feltz, BBC London 94.9
Sarah Gorrell, BBC Radio Sussex

Television Journalist of the year

Christine Alsford, ITV News Meridian
Colin Campbell, BBC South East Today
Guy Lynn, BBC London News
Ronke Phillips, ITV News London

Weekly Print Journalist of the Year

Gareth Davies, Croydon Advertiser
John Dickens, Slough Observer
Jo Gilbert, The East Grinstead Courier
Joe Walker Kentish Gazette
Luke Warren, Crawley News

Daily Print Journalist of the Year

Sam Bannister, The News, Portsmouth
Claire French, The News, Portsmouth
Samantha Harman, Dorset Echo
Patrick Knox, Southern Daily Echo
Miles O’Leary, The News, Portsmouth
Tara Russell, Southern Daily Echo
Rachel Stretton, Dorset Echo

Front Page of the Year

Croydon Advertiser, Every Mother’s Worst Nightmare
Daily Echo, Bournemouth, Heroes
Daily Echo, Bournemouth, Killer Punch
The News, Portsmouth, Think Again
Southern Daily Echo, Never Lose Hope

Community Campaign of the Year

Battle Observer, Save Battle Fire Station
Kentish Gazette, Think Again
Kent Messenger, Help Our Town
Sevenoaks Chronicle, Survival Guide

Website of the Year

Daily Echo, Bournemouth, www.bournemouthecho.co.uk
Dorset Echo www.dorsetecho.co.uk
KM Group,  www.kentonline.co.uk
The News, Portsmouth www.portsmouth.co.uk

Radio Programme of the Year

BBC London 94.9, The Breakfast Show with Penny Smith and Paul Ross
BBC Surrey, The Surrey Shoebox
KMFM, Kent Messenger Group

Television Programme of the Year

BBC South East Today
ITV News London
ITV News Meridian, D-Day
ITV News Meridian, London Gateway Opens

Weekly (free) Newspaper of the Year

Ascot, Windsor and Eton Express
Camden New Journal
Kent on Sunday
The Wharf

Weekly (paid for) Newspaper of the Year

Croydon Advertiser
Hampshire Chronicle
Kent Messenger
Kent and Sussex Courier

Daily Newspaper of the Year

Daily Echo, Bournemouth
The News, Portsmouth
Southern Daily Echo