Local newspapers including The Falkirk Herald and Edinburgh Evening News were among the winners at the Scottish Press Awards 2003.

The event, at Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel, saw the Scottish media turn out in force to see deputy first minister Jim Wallace present more than 40 awards.

More than 70 journalists were nominated from 395 entries.

Jason Allardyce, of Scotland on Sunday, was named Journalist of the Year and also picked up the Political Journalist of the Year award.

Joe Quinn was honoured by receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award as he celebrated 30 years with the Press Association in Scotland.

Local newspaper winners were Jill Buchanan, of the Falkirk Herald, who was named Weekly Newspaper Journalist of the Year.

The judges said: “A wonderful example of a weekly newspaper journalist spotting the story and going for it. Her pieces were well researched and her investigations produced a quality front page news story any national daily would have been proud of.”

John Nairn, of the Lennox, was runner-up.

Frank Boyle, of the Edinburgh Evening News, was voted Cartoonist of the Year.

The judges said: “The role of the cartoonist is to interpret, through an amusing graphic, on the issue of the day. Frank Boyle’s cartoons were both distinctive and individual in their approach giving a winning mixture of comment and humour.”

Commenting on Joe Quinn’s Lifetime Achievement Award, editors’ committee chairman Derek Tucker, editor of The Press and Journal in Aberdeen, said: “He has reported on every major Scottish story of the past 30 years.

“Through his dedication, commitment and example he has made a great personal contribution to the standard of journalism in Scotland.

“He is a true professional, the journalist’s journalist and worthy of this recognition.”

Journalist of the Year
Winner: Jason Allardyce
Publication: Scotland on Sunday

Scoop of the Year
Winner: Brian Lironi
Publication: Sunday Mail

Reporter of the Year
Winner: Steve Smith
Publication: Daily Record

Financial/Business Writer of the Year
Winner: Kenny Kemp
Publication: Sunday Herald

Feature Writer of the Year
Winner: Catherine Deveney
Publication: Scotland on Sunday

Columnist of the Year
Winner: Gillian Bowditch
Publication: The Sunday Times Scotland

Campaign of the Year
Winner: CHAS
Publication: Sunday Post

Front Page of the Year
Winner: Cradle to the Grave
Publication: The Scottish Daily Mail

Journalist Team of the Year
Winner: Anna Smith, Brian McCartney, Keith McLeod
Publication: Daily Record

Weekly Newspaper Journalist of the Year
Winner: Jill Buchanan
Publication: The Falkirk Herald

Political Journalist of the Year
Winner: Jason Allardyce
Publication: Scotland on Sunday

Sports Journalist of the Year
Winner: Bill Leckie
Publication: The Scottish Sun

Arts/Entertainment Writer of the Year
Winner: Peter Ross
Publication: Sunday Herald

Cartoonist of the Year
Winner: Frank Boyle
Publication: Edinburgh Evening News

Young Journalist of the Year
Winner: Caroline Waterston
Publication: Sunday Mail

Gaelic Journalist of the Year
Winner: Carol Zall
Publication: The Scotsman/An Gaidheal Ur

News Photographer of the Year
Winner: Colin Mearns
Publication: The Herald

Sports Photographer of the Year
Winner: Ian Rutherford
Publication: The Scotsman

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