The Inverness Courier and West Highland Free Press both came away from the Highland and Islands Media Awards with four prizes.

The Courier was crowned newspaper of the year and will receive £500 to donate to charity, part of a prize fund totalling £2,300.

The Scottish Provincial Press title also picked up the young journalist of the year and local reporter of the year titles for Andy Dixon and Helen Paterson respectively while Calum MacLeod was highly commended in the feature writer category.

The West Highland Free Press took best feature writer and sportswriter and was highly commended in the best photographer and Gaelic entry categories.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond will present the awards at a gala ceremony on 6 February, in Nairn, as well as revealing the winner of journalist of the year.

The full list of winners is:

Newspaper of the Year
Inverness Courier

Community Newspaper of the Year
West Word, Mallaig

Reporter of the Year
Winner: Lorraine Shearer, Orcadian
Highly Commended: Michelle Robson, Stornoway Gazette

Local Reporter of the Year
Winner: Helen Paterson, Inverness Courier
Highly Commended: Euan Paterson, Oban Times

Young Journalist of the Year
Winner: Andy Dixon, Inverness Courier
Highly Commended: Neil Riddell, Shetland Times

Photographer of the Year
Winner: Bobby Nelson, Scottish Provincial Press
Highly Commended: Willie Urquhart, West Highland Free Press

Local Newspaper Photographer of the Year
Winner: Ken Amer, Orkney Photographic
Highly Commended: Gary Anthony, Scottish Provisional Press

Feature Writer of the Year
Winner: Murray MacLeod, West Highland Free Press
Highly Commended: Calum MacLeod, Inverness Courier

Sportswriter of the Year
Winner: Keith Mackenzie, West Highland Free Press
Highly Commended: Eric Mackinnon, Stornoway Gazette

Best Gaelic Entry
Winner: Angus Campbell, Skye (freelance)
Highly Commended: Murray MacLeod, West Highland Free Press

Best Use of Journalism on the Web
Winner: Stephen Mackenzie, BBC