More than 150 entries have been submitted for the EDF Energy London and the South of England Media Awards 2006, run in association with holdthefrontpage.co.uk.

Almost 50 daily, weekly, and free weekly newspapers have taken part, along with radio and television stations from across the area, which includes Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex, Kent, Surrey and London.

The most hotly-contested categories are Print Journalist of the Year (Weekly), and Newcomer of the Year, each with 23 entries.

The strength of the regional press in campaigning for local causes is once again borne out – with 15 entries for the Community Campaign of the Year.

Other categories to be contested in the ceremony in Brighton on Monday, October 23, are Print Journalist of the Year (Daily), Radio Journalist of the Year, Television Journalist of the Year, Daily Newspaper of the Year, Weekly Newspaper of the Year (Paid-for), Weekly Newspaper of the Year (Free), Front Page of the Year, Radio News/Current Affairs Programme of the Year, Television News/Current Affairs Programme of the Year, Website of the Year, Feature Writer of the Year, News Photographer of the Year, Sports Journalist of the Year, Business Journalist of the Year, Environmental Journalist of the Year and Columnist of the Year.

Judging will take place next week in Crawley, West Sussex, near the offices of EDF Energy, when a shortlist of finalists will be announced.

The panel will make a decision on which newspapers, broadcasters, writers and photographers will be invited to the presentation event, where shortlisted nominees and their guests will enjoy lunch and drinks courtesy of EDF Energy before the winners pick up cheques and trophies.

HoldtheFrontPage publisher Patrick Astill said: “The organisers are very pleased that this first year of the competition for London and the South of England has captured the imagination of journalists.

“If the presentation ceremony is as much fun as our previous ones in the South West and the East of England, the finalists will have a great afternoon – as well as being recognised as being among the cream of regional journalism.

“We thank everyone for taking the time to put their entry together and, from the entries received, I know the judges will have some tough decisions to make.”