EDF Energy and HoldtheFrontPage today launch the third South West Media Awards.
Newspapers and broadcasters in the region are being invited to enter the 2007 awards, which this year feature two new categories.
The awards celebrate the very best of journalism in the South West, with prizes of £100 and trophies for every individual winner. Media organisations that scoop the top team prizes, like Newspaper of the Year and Current Affairs Programme of the Year, will take away a trophy.
The high-profile event will also raise money for the Journalists’ Charity, which benefits journalists and their dependents in times of personal difficulty.
Click here to download the entry form.
Andrew Brown, head of media relations at EDF Energy, said: “We’re very pleased to be able to host the awards again this year.
“We have been encouraged by the high standard of entries received in the past two years and want to build on that for the 2007 event.
“We are looking forward to celebrating the professionalism and dedication of print and broadcast journalists once again this summer.”
The awards cover daily and weekly newspapers and broadcasters in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
The two new categories this year – Columnist of the Year and Weekly Newspaper of the Year (Free) – join 17 others including journalists of the year for daily and weekly publications, radio and TV journalists of the year, front page, newspaper, feature writer, sports journalist and news photographer of the year.
Submitted work must be from the year up to March 1, 2007, and be sent in for judging by Friday, April 20.
Last year the awards attracted more than 200 entries and some 150 journalists enjoyed lunch and a presentation ceremony courtesy of sponsors EDF Energy.
Patrick Astill, HoldtheFrontPage publisher, said: “Despite tough times recently in this industry it’s the people who work within it who are its lifeblood.
“Each year we see the enthusiasm and expertise shine through and I’m looking forward to seeing some more top-notch work from South West journalists again this year.”
The 19 categories are:
The panel of judges will be announced in the coming weeks, with the award ceremony in June.
Last year, the Western Morning News won Daily Newspaper of the Year for the second time running, and Front Page of the Year. The Wiltshire Gazette & Herald won Weekly Newspaper of the Year.
Western Daily Press journalists won Business Journalist, Feature Writer, Sport Journalist and Environmental Journalist of the Year.
Daily Print Journalist of the Year was Helen Pearse, of the Plymouth Evening Herald, while Alli Pyrah, of the Stroud News & Journal, won Weekly Print Journalist of the Year. The Exeter Express & Echo’s Andy Green won News Photographer of the Year.
The BBC scored a success with the broadcasting categories, with Radio Devon’s Ben Woolvin lifting the award for Radio Journalist of the Year and Matthew Hill, of Points West, being named TV Journalist of the Year.
Entries are free, and people can enter as many times as they like in appropriate categories. Each entry has to be on a separate entry form and approved and signed by a senior member of that organisation’s editorial team.
See www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk from Monday to download the entry form and check out the rules for taking part.
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