The Daily Record scooped five awards last night as it was crowned Scotland’s Newspaper of the Year for 2014.

The 36th annual Scottish Press Awards saw the Trinity Mirror-owned title praised for the way it handed the debate over Scottish Independence before and after last year’s referendum.

Commenting on its Newspaper of the Year award, chairman of the judges Austin Lafferty said the newspaper’s coverage of the issue was: “A fine example of journalistic imagination, skill, and political nous.”

It also won Front Page of the Year for its splash ‘THE VOW’ about the plans to deliver more powers to the Scottish Parliament following September’s vote.

All the winners from the 36th Scottish Press Awards

Individual awards won by the Record included Keith Jackson who was named Sports News Writer of the Year for the third year in a row.

The Weekly Newspaper of the Year prize in last night’s ceremony at Glasgow’s Radisson Blu Hotel went to Fife Free Press.

The awards are organised by the Scottish Newspaper Society. Its director John McLellan said: “2014 was a year to remember and all our editorial teams more than stepped up to the plate to deliver some brilliant journalism which captured a significant moment in time.

“Scottish newspapers remained at the heart of the action and reaffirmed the industry’s ability to make vital contributions to the decisions affecting the lives of all Scots.

“Judging the awards is never easy and this year was more difficult than most, but it’s always a privilege to see the quality and diversity of coverage in our titles across all subjects.”

The full list of winners was as follows:

Sports Photographer of the Year: Stewart Attwood, Herald & Times Group
News Photographer of the Year: Jeff Mitchell, Getty Images
Cartoonist of the Year: Brian Petrie, The Scottish Sun
Young Journalist of the Year: Darren Hamilton, Evening Telegraph
Weekly Newspaper of the Year: Fife Free Press
Arts/Entertainment Journalist of the Year: Brian Beacom, The Herald
Interviewer of the Year: Patricia Kane, Scottish Mail on Sunday
Political Journalist of the Year: David Clegg, Daily Record
Columnist of the Year: Chris Deerin, Scottish Daily Mail
Financial/Business Journalist of the Year: Erikka Askeland, The Press & Journal
Feature Writer of the Year: Emma Cowing, Scottish Daily Mail
Sports Feature Writer of the Year: Aidan Smith, The Scotsman
Sports News Writer of the Year: Keith Jackson, Daily Record
Innovation of the Year: Scotland Now
Front Page of the Year: Daily Record for ‘THE VOW’
Journalism Team of the Year: Scottish Daily Mail
Campaign of the Year: Scottish Daily Mail on Armed Police
Scoop of the Year: Murray Foote, Daily Record for ‘THE VOW’
Reporter of the Year: Marion Scott, Sunday Mail
Lifetime Achievement Award: Drew Cochrane
Journalist of the Year: Marion Scott, Sunday Mail
Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2014: Richard Walker, Sunday Herald
Newspaper of the Year: Daily Record