Radio presenter and former news editor of Sky News Nick Ferrari has paid tribute to the ‘crucial’ work of Britain’s independent news agencies.

Speaking at the NAPAs – the National Association of Press Agencies annual awards – he said their role remained paramount in a complex media world.

“In theory, awards ceremonies are about winners and losers. But there are no losers in this room, only journalists and photographers who are extremely good at what they do,” he said.

“You are the people who every day fill the pages of newspapers and magazines and provide the talking points for broadcasters.I and many others in this industry are hugely appreciative of what you do.’

Nick, now a presenter on LBC, said he was ‘born to be an agency reporter’ and as a schoolboy regularly filed to the nationals on behalf of his father Dan’s Kent-based agency, which still carries the Ferrari name.

The full list of award-winners was as follows:

EXCLUSIVE NEWS/SPORT STORY OF THE YEAR

1st , Heather Skillen, Caters News Agency;
Joint 2nd , Lucy Clarke-Billings, Ferrari Press & Patrick Gysin, Ferrari Press;
3rd Rachel McDermott – Ross Parry Agency

SPEC NEWS/SPORT STORY OF THE YEAR

1st , Will Humphries, Wales News Service;
Joint 2nd , Will Carson, BNPS & Laura Elvin SWNS;
3rd, Kerry Harden – Cavendish Press

FEATURE STORY OF THE YEAR

1st , Paisley Gilmour, Talk to the Press;
2nd , Kim Willis, Phoenix Features;
3rd , Harriet Rose-Gale, SWNS.

KEVIN FITZPATRICK AWARD

1st, Paisley Gilmour, Talk to the Press;
2nd ,Harriet Rose-Gale, SWNS ;
Joint 3rd ,Hannah Stubbs, Caters News Agency & Kristina Beanland, Caters News Agency .

PICTURE OF THE YEAR

1st, Nigel Bowles, John Connors Press Associates;
2nd , Jon Langeland, Solent News;
3rd, Allan Bentley, Cavendish Press.

SPORTS PICTURE OF THE YEAR

1st, Alex Whitehead, Simon Wilkinson Pictures;
2nd, William Cherry, Presseye;
3rd; Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker Press;