Four regional press journalists are going head-to-head with national newspaper opposition in a new set of industry awards.

The British Journalism Awards, organised by Press Gazette, aim to celebrate excellence across the national, regional and broadcast media.

The list of finalists has now been published and although national newspapers earn the lion’s share of the nominations, four regional journalists have made the shortlist.

Winners will be named at the awards ceremony to be held at Stationers’ Hall, London, on 4 December.

Two regional press journalists make the six-strong shortlist for the investigation of the year prize.

They are Jon Austin of the Basildon Echo, nominated for his coverage of the Dale Farm evictions, and Leigh Marles, editor of the Wirral Globe.

Leigh earned his nomination for orchestrating his newspaper’s coverage of a local council scandal which came to light when a whistleblower, Martin Morton, revealed that money had been wrongly taken from vulnerable adults.

He said:  “It’s extraordinary for us to be nominated for such a prestigious national award that recognises the work the vast majority of journalists do in calling to account those in power.”

The business journalist of the year category sees Hull Daily Mail’s Catherine Lea up against competition from FT, The Times, and The Guardian among others.

Catherine has already won the business and finance journalist of the year prize at this year’s Regional Press Awards.

Last not but not least Warren Manger of the Coventry Telegraph is nominated for the science journalist of the year prize for stories that secured lifesaving surgery for two city patients with aortic aneurysms.

He will be up against opposition from the likes of Pallab Ghosh and Tom Fielden of the BBC.