The shortlist for the Newspaper Society Weekly Awards 2007 has been announced after judges waded through an entry list some 37 per cent up on last year.

The awards recognise weekly local media, both in print and online, and will be held this year on Thursday, November 29 at Oulton Hall, near Leeds.

Of the 35 awards, there are a number of new categories including Newspaper Website of the Year and Sports Journalist of the Year.

Lynne Anderson, communications director of the Newspaper Society, said: “We have seen a higher number of entrants for the Weekly Awards this year, which has translated into an extensive shortlist of newspaper titles. The quality of entries we have received has been excellent.”

Judging the entries this year were Press Gazette editor Dominic Ponsford, Ed Dorrell – news editor, New Media Age, Fiona Hodges – regional director, Mediaedge cia, Gary Cullum – editor, Press Journal and Headlines, and Lynne Anderson.

The shortlist of entries can be found here.