EDF Energy and holdthefrontpage are about to launch their 2008 media awards for the South West.

Invitations will go out next week to journalists from across the region, including writers, photographers, radio and television staff.

Check your cuttings, footage and files from the past year – 1 February 2007 to 1 February 2008 – to see if you’ve got what it takes to be a winner.

Individual award winners will receive a £100 cheque, as well as a certificate and trophy, and all those short-listed, along with their guests, will be invited to a celebration presentation event, courtesy of sponsors EDF Energy.

EDF Energy’s regional media manager Claire Byrd said: “The South West was the first region we staged our media awards in and there has been terrific interest from all the major titles and stations in the area.

“The number of entries has grown year on year and the high standard of journalism in the region should make for a great competition again this time.”

holdthefrontpage publisher Patrick Astill said: “Last year’s event set the standard for this region so we know the talent is there.

“We’re looking forward to reading, watching or listening to every entry to make sure the best efforts from this area are justly rewarded.

“It is thanks to EDF Energy’s generous sponsorship that we can hold this event, and in the best tradition of the regional media we’re relying on the West Country’s journalists to make it a tough contest once again.”

The awards, now in their fourth year in the region, honour the best in journalism across the South West. Judges sifted through a record 240 entries last year.

The categories, which cover daily and weekly newspapers, magazines and broadcasters in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, comprise:

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.

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, approved by their editor, which will be published on this website next week.

If you have any questions or queries about the awards or the event itself, please e-mail [email protected].