Two rival Scottish Sunday newspapers were among the winners at an awards ceremony held to recognise journalism which highlights asylum issues.

Judith Duffy of the Sunday Herald scooped the National Print (News) award at the Refugee Week Scotland Media Awards with a story about the plight of asylum seekers living destitute in Glasgow.

And Anna Burnside of Scotland on Sunday won the National Print (Features) award for a story which focused on a night shelter for asylum seekers set up in a church hall.

The annual awards were held by the Scottish Refugee Council last Friday in association with the British Red Cross and the National Union of Journalists to praise those who report on refugee issues.

The Local Print award went to Joe McGuire from weekly newspaper The Glaswegian, for an exclusive story about the decision by Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games organisers not to allow asylum seekers to volunteer at the 2014 games.

Nick Ponty of the Glasgow Evening Times won the Photographic award for an image of two women – one a Zimbabwean refugee and the other a local resident – who met and formed a close friendship through a theatre project.

And freelance writer Billy Briggs was presented with the NUJ Special Award for work on news and features over several years.

Karin Goodwin, media officer for the Scottish Refugee Council, said: “We’d like to congratulate not only the winners of this year’s Refugee Week Scotland Media Awards but also all the journalists across Scotland who go above and beyond to find important stories about asylum and convince their editors of the need to pursue them.

“By highlighting the issues people face when claiming asylum, they help to ensure they are more visable and taken seriously by policy makers. Accuate and insightful reporting has a real impact on people’s lives.”

The full list of winners is:

National Print (News):

Judith Duffy, Sunday Herald

Runner-up: Kathleen Nutt, freelance

National Print (Features):

Anna Burnside, Scotland on Sunday

Runner-up: Ross Reid, Holyrood Magazine

Local Print:

Joe McGuire, The Glaswegian

Runner-up: Maureen Ellis, Evening Times

Digital:

Rachael Fulton, STV Local

Runner-up: communitycare.co.uk

Photographic:

Nick Ponty, Evening Times

Runner-up: Colin Mearns, Sunday Herald