The Derby Telegraph is heading up the shortlist for next month’s Midlands Media Awards with a total of 12 nominations.

But the Northcliffe-owned daily faces competition from the Birmingham Mail, Coventry Telegraph, Express and Star, Leicester Mercury, Northants Chronicle and Tamworth Herald as it seeks to hang on to the Newspaper of the Year title won last year.

The Mail has 11 nominations and Coventry Telegraph seven for the 15 March awards which are run by the Birmingham Press Club.

The Birmingham Mail and Post’s Jeanette Oldham will be looking to repeat last year’s win as Journalist of the Year after being nominated again.

Steve Dyson, chairman on the judging panel, said: “It was a pleasure for judges to see more than 360 entries from places as far away as Worcester, Leek, Derby, Coventry, Hinckley, Lincolnshire and Northants – as well as Wolverhampton and Birmingham in the heart of the region.

“And it was even more enjoyable to see such passion and pride alive and kicking in Midland journalism.

He added: “The quality of entries was extremely high – in terms of news value, evidence of strong local contacts, detailed facts, writing style and true, old-fashioned exclusives that grabbed the reader.”

The awards will take place at the Banqueting Suite, Edgbaston County Cricket Ground. The full shortlist is as follows:

Newspaper of the Year

Birmingham Mail
Coventry Telegraph
Derby Telegraph
Express and Star
Leicester Mercury
Northants Chronicle
Tamworth Herald

Journalist of the Year

Adam Aspinall, Sunday Mercury
Alison Dayani, BPM media
Anuji Varma, Sunday Mercury
Dominic Howell, Nottingham Post
Jeanette Oldham, BPM Media
Les Reid, Coventry Telegraph

Magazine of the Year

dluxe Leicestershire
dluxe Birmingham & Solihull
Midlands Business Insider
69 Magazine
Style Birmingham
The Journal
News reporter of the Year (Daily)

Adam Aspinall, Sunday Mercury
Anuji Varma, Sunday Mercury
Dominic Howell, Nottingham Post
Jeanette Oldham, Sunday Mercury
Kat Keogh, Birmingham Mail
Les Reid, Coventry Telegraph

News reporter of the Year (Weekly)

Belinda Hargreaves, Leek Post and Times
Leslie Jackson, Leek Post and Times
Louise Bellicoso, Buxton Advertiser
Nick Brimacombe, Mansfield Chad
Paul Kemp, Tamworth Herald

Online journalist of the Year

Ben Hurst, Birmingham Mail
Brian Halford; Birmingham Mail
John Duckers
Stephanie Bartup, Midlands Business insider

Business Journalist of the Year

Joanne Malin, BBC WM radio
Jenny Waddington, Coventry Telegraph
John Duckers, Business Insider
Jon Griffin, Birmingham Mail
Mark Gough, Central
Oliver Astley, Derby Telegraph
Simon Penfold, Wolverhampton Express and Star

Sports journalist of the Year

Andy Turner, Coventry Telegraph
Ian Winter, BBC Midlands Today
Leigh Curtis, Lincolshire Echo
Matt Kendrick, BPM Media
Steve Nicholson, Derby Telegraph
Steve Clamp Central
Tom Ross, BRMB

Scoop of the Year

Cara Simpson, Coventry Telegraph
Chris Jones, Derby Telegraph
Graham Young, Sunday Mercury
James Connell, Worcester News
Jane Tyler, Birmingham Mail
Jeanette Oldham, Sunday Mercury
Jonny Greatrex, Sunday Mercury

Headline of the Year

David Summers, Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Graham Tebbutt, Northants Chronicle and Echo
Nick Harries, Sunday Mercury
Richard Jackson, Birmingham Mail
Stacey Barnfield, Birmingham Mail
Steve Wollaston, Birmingham Mail

Columnist of the Year

Jill Gallone, Derby Telegraph
Kat Keogh, Birmingham Mail
Leigh Curtis, Lincolnshire Echo
Les Reid, Coventry Telegraph
Mike Lockley, Sunday Mercury
Paul Fulford, Birmingham Mail

Feature writer of the Year

Chris Jones, Derby Telegraph
Graham Young, Birmingham Mail
Katherine Taylor, Nottingham Post
Mark Andrews, Express and Star
Mike Lockley, Chase Post
Nicole Le Marie, Northants Chronicle and Echo

Newcomer/Student of the Year

Alex Britton, Nottingham Post
Andrew Bettridge, student at Staffordshire
Chris Airey, student at Staffordshire
Daniel Hewitt, Central
Lee Kettle, student at Staffordshire
Rachel Butler, Derby Telegraph;

News photographer of the Year

Alex Hannan, Leicester Mercury
Emma Trimble, BPM Media
Gavin Dickson, Express and Star
Katherine Burnett, Derby Telegraph
Leah McLaren, Derby Telegraph
Mike Sewell, Leicester Mercury

Sports photographer of the Year

Beth Walsh, Leicester Mercury
Gavin Dickson, Express and Star
Ian Hodgkinson, Derby Telegraph
Katherine Burnett, Derby Telegraph
Lucy Shaw, Derby Telegraph
Mike Sewell, Leicester Mercury

TV Journalist of the Year

Ben Godfrey, BBC Midlands Today
Charlotte Grant, ITV Central
Liz Copper, BBC Midlands Today
Mark Gough of ITV Central
Mary Rhodes, BBC Midlands Inside Out

Radio Journalist of the Year

Corazon Garcia of Gem 106
Dan Dawson, BRMB
Laura Safe Heart FM
Stacey Foster BRMB
Steve Hermon, Beacon
Touch FM (news team)