The race is on for media across the East of England to get their best work together for the EDF Energy East of England Media Awards 2007.

Last year’s event saw more than 200 entries and a keenly contested awards event was attended by some 180 journalists.

Invitations are going out to journalists across the region to attract the very best work from regional newspapers, radio and television.

Entries have to be in by the end of Friday, December 7 – so check which categories you could enter. You’ll need one form for each entry, to be countersigned by your editor.

The contest is free to enter, and cash prizes of £100 are being offered for individual winners, along with trophies and certificates.

All shortlisted nominees and their guests will be invited to an awards lunch in January, courtesy of the sponsors, EDF Energy.

Claire Byrd, regional media manager for EDF Energy, said: “We are very encouraged by the standard of work and the excitement generated by the awards event in this part of the world and we’re looking forward to seeing what will be put forward this year.

“There have been some very big stories in the patch in the past 12 months and it will be interesting to see how the different media tackled them, as well as a chance to see how they made the most of more run-of-the-mill tales.

“It is a great opportunity for local talent to be recognised and I hope that all branches of print and broadcast media will seize the moment and give the judges a tough time in choosing the winners.”

Some awards, such as Daily Reporter of the Year, Feature Writer of the Year and Photographer were particularly fiercely contested last time around, with the Cambridge Evening News named Daily Newspaper of the Year for being “punchy, without trying to be too flashy”.

The Paid-for Weekly Newspaper of the Year was the Hoddesdon & Broxbourne Mercury/Cheshunt & Waltham Mercury, a “lively publication with a good mix of content and clean design”, while the Free Weekly Newspaper of the Year was The Comet, boasting “engaging content” and a “strong community feel”.

Among the broadcasters, Paul Moseley, from BBC Radio Norfolk, was named Radio Journalist of the Year, while Anglia TV East’s Malcolm Robertson won the title of Television Journalist of the Year.

Holdthefrontpage publisher Patrick Astill said: “These awards always turn up some interesting content, and what makes it more interesting is the competition between print and broadcast in some of the wider categories, such as environment, sport, and Newcomer of the Year.”

There are 19 categories to enter, and newspaper staff can enter as many relevant categories as they wish, with no entry fee.

Categories for individuals include:

– Print Journalist of the Year (Daily)
– Print Journalist of the Year (Weekly)
– Radio Journalist of the Year
– Television Journalist of the Year
– Newcomer 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
– Columnist of the Year

Categories for newspapers and broadcasting companies comprise:

– 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
– Community Campaign of the Year

The awards take in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and parts of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday, December 7, and should be sent to:

Patrick Astill,
holdthefrontpage,
AND,
First Floor,
East Point,
Cardinal Square,
10 Nottingham Road,
Derby, DE1 3QT.

Questions or queries about the awards or the event itself, should be e-mailed to [email protected] or [email protected].