A new award is to be launched to recognise excellence in the growing field of newspaper apps.

Over the past year many newspaper groups have developed apps to take advantage of the increasing popularity of smartphones and tablets.

Now technology company PageSuite, which specialises in building newspaper apps, is sponsoring a new category at the 2011 Newspaper Awards, which reward excellence in newspaper production.

The Newspaper App of the Year prize is open to entries for any platform including iPhone, Android and iPad.

Ben Edwards, marketing manager of PageSuite, said: “Our experience shows that newspaper apps will become an integral part of a newspaper publisher’s portfolio.

“We are excited with publishers reaction to new digital and mobile technology, with a variety of innovations and strategies, which we are delighted to recognise with this new award.”

Gary Cullum, director of the Newspaper Awards, said: “The explosion of new digital technologies, in particular tablets with The Gartner Group predicting sales of over 50m next year, has led to a flurry of new digital newspapers.

“Despite the doom-mongers forecasting the end of the printed newspaper, I firmly believe that there will be sufficient consumer demand to support both print and digital newspapers.”

Further details about the Newspaper App of the Year and details of how to enter the category can be found on www.newspaperawards.co.uk.

Closing date for entries is 18 March 2011 and the winners will be announced on 24 May 2011 at the London Hilton.