Trinity Mirror’s titles in Liverpool head the shortlist for the O2 North West Media Awards, with nine nominations across the Liverpool Echo and Liverpool Post.

The Echo has six nominations for the awards, in news, sport, features and scoop categories, as well as in Daily Newspaper of the Year – where it is up against The Bolton News, Carlisle’s News & Star and the Blackpool Gazette.

Its Post sister title, which made the daily-to-weekly switch earlier this year, is nominated for Weekly Newspaper of the Year, while the paper’s culture section is nominated in the specialist category and journalist Alistair Houghton is nominated for the Business Journalist of the Year award.

Also competing in the best weekly newspaper category are the Cumberland News, Crewe Chronicle, Macclesfield Express, Accrington Observer and Champion Newspapers.

The shortlist also features a number of consumer magazines and specialist publications this year, including Lancashire Magazine, Cumbria Life, North West Business Insider, the Manchester Evening News’ Greater Manchester Business Week magazine and the Saddleworth Independent, a stand-alone monthly newspaper.

The awards, which are in their fifth year, include three new categories – Specialist Publication, Multi-Media Journalist and an Emerging Talent Award, aimed at students across the region and supported by ITV, BBC North West, the Press Association and Trinity Mirror – who have all offered work-shadowing placements as potential prizes.

Award winners will be announced at a presentation evening at Lancashire Cricket Club in Manchester on 8 November.

Nicola Green, head of communications and reputation at O2, said: “The standard was exceptional and across many categories the selection of an overall winner came only after a lengthy and intensive debate and several voting sessions.

“I think this year has certainly been the toughest yet for the judging panels and shows that competitive spirit across all North West media is alive and well.”

The full shortlist is:

Business Journalist of the Year

Rupert Cornford, North West Business Insider
Alistair Houghton, Liverpool Post
Chris Maguire, North West Business Insider

Multi Media Journalist of the Year

Andy Downton, Heart FM
Dan Kay, Liverpool Echo
Vanessa Cornall, Lancashire Telegraph

Young Journalist of the Year

Will Metcalfe, North West Evening Mail
David Raven, Crosby Champion
Ellie Cullen, Crewe Chronicle
Daniel Hewitt, ITV Granada

Feature Writer of the Year

Chris McGuire, North West Business Insider
Paddy Shennan, Liverpool Echo
Roger Lytollis, News & Star/ Cumberland News

News Reporter of the Year

Neal Keeling, Manchester Evening News
Vanessa Cornall, Lancashire Telegraph
Marc Waddington, Liverpool Echo

Photographer of the Year

Phil Rigby, Cumbria Life
John Granger, North West Evening Mail
Robert Binder, Lancashire Telegraph

Radio Broadcast Journalist of the Year

Alex Davies, Heart FM
Kate Collins, Real Radio
Sarah Poole, Real Radio

Scoop of the Year

Lancashire Evening Post, Cage Fighting Kids
Liverpool Echo, BNP Mayoral candidate arrested

Specialist Publication of the Year

Post Culture, Liverpool Post
Business Week, Manchester Evening News
Saddleworth Independent
Lancashire Magazine

Sports Journalist of the Year

Amanda Little, Cumberland News
Chris Hall, ITV Granada
Greg O’Keeffe, Liverpool Echo

TV Broadcast Journalist of the Year

Melissa Barham, ITV Granada
Matt O’Donoghue, ITV Granada
Jacey Normand, BBC North West

Editorial Team of the Year

Real Radio
Westmorland Gazette
Cumbria Life
Champion Newspapers

Daily Newspaper of the Year

Bolton News
News & Star
Blackpool Gazette
Liverpool Echo

Weekly Newspaper of the Year

The Liverpool Post
Cumberland News
Crewe Chronicle
Macclesfield Express
Accrington Observer
Champion Newspapers