The judging line-up for the EDF Energy South West Media Awards has been confirmed.
Society of Editors president Paul Horrocks, who is editor of the Manchester Evening News, will be among the experts taking a look at entries from newspapers, radio and television companies across the south west.
Also in the mix for the judging at the holdthefrontpage office in April are Midland Weekly Newspapers editorial director Tony Lennox, Yorkshire Evening Post editor Paul Napier and former regional press man Dan Pritchard, now EDF Energy’s South West external communications executive.
The awards cover daily and weekly newspapers and broadcasters in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire with 19 different categories.
People can submit work for as many categories as they wish in this free-to-enter competition, but each must be accompanied by a separate entry form.
And – courtesy of EDF Energy – all the nominees and their guests can enjoy a meal and drinks at the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol on Tuesday June 12.
The afternoon event, held in association with holdthefrontpage.co.uk, will be the culmination of regional journalists’ efforts during the past year.
Download the entry form here.
The judging panel comprises:
Paul Horrocks, who has worked at the Manchester Evening News for 30 years and has been editor there since 1997, working his way up from being a reporter. He is also a director of the Society of Editors, and a non-executive member of MIDAS, the North West investment agency for new business. He was a member of the Organising Committee for the Commonwealth Games Manchester 2002. He is vice president of the Community Foundation for Greater Manchester, patron of Francis House Children’s Hospice and member of the Manchester Enterprises Partners’ Council.
Tony Lennox, editorial director of Midland Weekly Newspapers. He has responsibility for more than 30 titles, and has previously served as acting editor of the Birmingham Post. He has been responsible for the weeklies since 1990, and has also edited the Bromsgrove Weekly Mail, the Cannock Advertiser and the Stafford Post. His first job was on the Devonshire Weekly Express, and he spent nine years as a reporter on the Birmingham Evening Mail.
Paul Napier has been editor of the Leeds-based Yorkshire Evening Post for the past year, previously editing the Hartlepool Mail, and before that the Scarborough Evening News. He is a former editor-in-chief of the Bucks Herald in Aylesbury following a spell as editor of the Banbury Guardian. He spent seven years at the Evening Telegraph in Kettering, working his way up the ranks to assistant editor.
Nigel Bowles, co-director at John Connor Press Associates, started in press photography 20 years ago working on weekly newspapers on the south coast before moving to The Argus where he spent five years on the picture desk. He left to set up the photographic department at John Connor Press Associates, where award-winning photographers take pictures for the national press, magazine and a number of corporate clients.
Karen Ainley, who began her journalism career as a reporter on evening and weekly local papers and is an experienced CIPR-approved media trainer. She’s a former BBC local radio and regional TV reporter and presenter.
Dan Pritchard, EDF Energy’s external communications executive for the South West, worked in regional newspapers and television in the east of England for five years, before joining Norfolk County Council’s communications unit, where he worked as a communications officer for more than four years. He joined EDF Energy before Christmas and is now leading PR activity for the company in the South West.
The 19 categories are:
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
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
Community Campaign of the Year
Columnist of the Year.
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