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Mercury crowned Midlands' best again

The Sunday Mercury repeated its 2007 triumph last night to be crowned the Midlands’ top newspaper.

At the Midlands Media Awards, the Birmingham-based weekly beat competition from The Hinckley Times and Worcester News to take home the top prize.

The accolade comes in what has been a landmark year for the Mercury and its sister papers the Birmingham Post and Mail.

The three titles, rebranded BPM Media, moved out of the centre of the Second City in November for the first time in 150 years to a new home just off the M6.

And the weekly Mercury, famed for its groundbreaking investigative exposés, launched its own dedicated breaking news website last July.

Also taking home prizes at the event, run by the Birmingham Press Club, were BPM Media’s Adam Aspinall and The Hinckley Times’ Sam Dimmer as daily and weekly reporters of the year.

It was also a brace of gongs for Lucy Tatchell, from the Worcester News, who won best newcomer and scoop of the year for breaking the story of paralysed rugby player Dan James who went to Switzerland for an assisted suicide last September.

There were also prize winners from Stoke daily The Sentinel, Derby Telegraph, Nottingham Evening Post and Coventry Telegraph.

Scroll down for all the winners from last night’s ceremony at Birmingham’s New Bingley Hall and click through for the full shortlist.


Newspaper of the Year

Sunday Mercury

News Reporter of the Year (Daily)

Adam Aspinall, Sunday Mercury/Post and Mail

News Reporter of the Year (Weekly)

Sam Dimmer, The Hinckley Times

Photographer of the Year (Regional)

Ian Findlay, Birmingham Post and Mail

Photographer of the Year (Weekly)

Marisa Cashill, Derbyshire Times

Sports Photographer of the Year

Dan Matthams, Nottingham Evening Post

Trevor Roberts Award
Given in memory of the former Birmingham Post and Mail photo editor to the best up-and-coming young photographer from the Midlands

Alex Severn, The Sentinel

Sports Journalist of the Year

Stevie Roden, Nottingham Evening Post

Feature Writer of the Year

Mary Griffin, Coventry Telegraph

Newcomer of the Year

Lucy Tatchell, Worcester News

Business Journalist of the Year

Robin Johnson, Derby Telegraph

Magazine of the Year

The Derbyshire Magazine

Scoop of the Year

Lucy Tatchell, Worcester News

Headline of the Year

Steve Adams, Coventry Times

Columnist of the Year

Mike Lockley, Sunday Mercury

Online Journalist of the Year

Louisa Lewis, BRMB

Community Campaign of the Year

Dump It!Nuneaton Tribune

Birmingham City Council Digital Innovation Award

Rhubarb Radio

Online Campaign – People’s Choice Award

Black Country Facebook Group