The Hampstead and Highgate Express has been named Paid-For Weekly Newspaper of the Year at this year's Newspaper Society Weekly Newspaper Awards.

The award was one of more than 30 handed out at a ceremony in Stratford-upon-Avon, where the best advertising and journalism talent in the regional weekly newspaper industry was honoured.

Among the other editorial winners was Kent on Sunday, which was crowned Free Weekly Newspaper of the Year, and Kelly Crane and Alistair Harris who scooped the awards for Best News Journalist on a paid-for and free weekly paper, respectively.

To see a full list of editorial winners, click here.

A new award, for Innovative Person of the Year, was also handed out for the first time with Weston and Somerset Mercury managing editor Judi Kisiel, and Slough and Langley Observer editor Martin Biddle being named joint winners.

Judges praised Judi for her innovative approach over a period of years, including organising an evening to celebrate the life of Jill Dando, who trained as a reporter on the Mercury and persuading Sir Cliff Richard to perform free of charge at a charity concert for Weston Hospicecare, while Martin was praised for setting up the Carers Awards, which this year honoured almost 100 unsung heroes who care for loved ones.

The awards were announced by Philippa Kennedy, consultant editor of Press Gazette, and were presented by Newspaper Society president John Robertson and David Kerr, chairman of Clacksons, which sponsored the event.

Back to the awards index

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