The Liverpool Echo’s editor has dedicated an accolade given for its online coverage to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster and their families.

The Echo was named Best Local/Regional News Site at the Online Media Awards, having faced competition from the Belfast Telegraph and Trinity Mirror’s Wales Online and GetReading websites, among others.

The awards, run by The Drum, recognise the “cleverest, boldest and most original purveyors of news” from around the world.

Echo editor Alastair Machray, pictured above left, accepted the award on behalf of his staff.

He said: “The Liverpool Echo is thrilled to win worldwide recognition for its online journalism. I am thrilled for the Echo it’s staff and the people of Liverpool.

“There is little doubt our coverage of Hillsborough played a big part in our recognition. And as always our award is for the 96, their families and the many people whose lives were changed that day.”

The prize comes after the Echo received a special Chairman’s Award at the Regional Press Awards for its campaigning work with the families of the victims of the 1989 tragedy, which claimed the lvies of 96 Liverpool football supporters.

Also among the winners at last night’s awards was Newsquest which took the prize for ‘Best use of Data for Commercial Gain’ ahead of the Economist and Financial Times.

The award is in recognition of the publisher’s implementation of category-specific display advertising products for its 50,000 local advertisers, which is designed to deliver highly targeted advertising packages for specific client categories.

Newsquest said the move has simplified the sales process for its local sales teams, improved campaign performance for advertisers and simultaneously increased yields, average campaign values and sales volume.

Speaking after receiving the award, digital display director Simon Sarahs said “Becoming a more client-centric organisation has been critical to our success.

“By putting our clients’ needs at the heart of everything we do we’ve been able to develop a credible digital product proposition for our local advertisers – ensuring their ads are being served to the right people, at the right time, and in the right environment.”

Digital director Mark Smith added: “It’s a fitting reward for the digital display team and the smart thinking and effort that they’ve put in to what they’ve produced for our local sales teams.

“To have been shortlisted alongside the Financial Times and the Economist and won is no small feat and they deserve the recognition.”