Journalists are being invited to enter the North East’s premier regional press awards, which are being held for the 29th year.

The Tom Cordner North East Press Awards will be held in November to celebrate the best of the regional press in reporting, photography, design, magazine production and online video news.

Entries can be submitted until 1pm on 8 October in 11 categories, including the original Tom Cordner Quill for the North East Trainee Journalist of the Year, as the awards continue with the scaled-down version introduced last year to reflect the economic downturn.

And the awards have a new sponsor this year – with discount health and beauty retailer Semichem backing them.

Gail Thornton, the company’s regional business manager, said: “Semichem is delighted to be supporting this year’s prestigious North East Press Awards and to recognise the region’s journalistic talent.”

The awards began in 1980 and are held in memory of Tom Cordner, news editor of the Hartlepool Mail, who died suddenly in 1976 at the age of 38.

Entry to the awards is free and material must have been published by North East newspapers, magazines or their websites between 1 October 2009 and 30 September 2010.

The awards will be presented on 27 November at the Customs House Theatre in South Shields.

For information on how to enter, visit northeastpressawards.org.uk.