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
Birmingham City Council Digital Innovation Award
Rhubarb Radio
Online Campaign – People’s Choice Award
Black Country Facebook Group