The shortlist for the EDF Energy South West of England Media Awards is announced today with the Swindon Advertiser leading the race for nominations.

The Newsquest daily has eight nominations for this year’s prizes, just ahead of the Bristol Post with seven.

The awards, held in association with HoldtheFrontPage, are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year and aim to honour the best in journalism across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

This year there were more than 300 entries, across 20 categories.

Also featuring heavily in the shortlist are Gloucestershire Media, publishers of The Citizen and the Gloucestershire Echo, with eight nominations overall.

The Western Morning News, Plymouth Herald, Express and Echo in Exeter, Bath Chronicle and Western Gazette each have five.

Paul Linford, publisher of HoldtheFrontPage, said: “We are proud to have been associated with these awards over the past nine years and grateful for the continued support and sponsorship of EDF Energy over that period.

“The South West region has really taken these awards to its heart over that period and once again it is great to see such a strong set of entries coming forward.”

The awards ceremony will be held at the Bristol Hotel on Thursday July 3.

The full shortlist is as follows:

Newcomer of the Year

Michael Benke, Swindon Advertiser
Sian Davies, The Plymouth Herald
Louis Emanuel, Bristol Post
Dominic Gilbert, Swindon Advertiser
Athwenna Irons, The Western Morning News
Gemma Mullin, Mid Devon Gazette

Digital Journalist of the Year

Richard Booth, Express and Echo
Louis Emanuel, Bristol Post
Emily Koch, Bristol Post
Siobhan Stayt, The Bath Chronicle

Specialist Journalist of the Year

Philip Bowern, The Western Morning News
Scott D’Arcy, Swindon Advertiser
Carl Eve, The Plymouth Herald
Clare Jones, The Plymouth Herald
Gavin Thompson, Bristol Post
Mike Wilkinson, Gloucester Citizen

News photographer of the Year

Jennie Banks, Western Gazette
Len Copland, Western Gazette
Clare Green, The Western Daily Press
Mikal Ludlow, Gloucestershire Media
Paul Nicholls, Gloucestershire Media

Sports Journalist of the Year

Neil Beck, The Bath Chronicle
Steve Cotton, Bristol News and Media
Jonathan Herbert, Gloucestershire Echo
Andy Philips, Herald Express News and Media

Feature Writer of the Year

Tom Bevan, Express and Echo
Steven Impey, Gloucestershire Media
Barry Leighton, Swindon Advertiser

Columnist of the Year

Len Copland, Western Gazette
Steve Cotton, The Western Daily Press
Barrie Hudson, Swindon Advertiser
Mary Quicke, Devon Life
Becky Sheaves, The Western Morning News

Designer of the Year

Daniel Biggane, The Bath Chronicle
Jon Lewis, Express and Echo
Joyce Matthews, Gloucestershire Media

Radio Journalist of the Year

Chris Brierley, BBC Bristol
Cheryl Dennis, BBC Bristol
Ross Ellis, BBC Cornwall

TV Journalist of the Year

Bob Cruwys, ITV Westcountry
Ken Goodwin, ITV Westcountry
Matthew Hill, BBC Inside Out
Sally Mountjoy, BBC West
David Woodland, ITV Westcountry

Print Journalist of the Year (Weekly)

Tom Bevan, Express and Echo
Fran McElhone, Express and Echo
Siobhan Stayt, The Bath Chronicle
Richard Wevill, Mid Devon Gazette
Tom Wright, Western Worle and Somerset Mercury

Print Journalist of the Year (Daily)

Beren Cross, Swindon Advertiser
Scott D’Arcy, Swindon Advertiser
Clare Jones, The Plymouth Herald
Toby Meyjes, The Western Morning News
Tom Morris, Bristol Post
Mike Wilkinson, Gloucester Citizen

Website of the Year

Bristol Post
SoGlos.com
Swindon Advertiser
TheExeterDaily.co.uk
The Plymouth Herald

Community Campaign of the Year

Mid Devon Gazette, Protect Our Kids
Gloucester Citizen, Stop the Heartbreak
The West Briton, One Life Too Many

Front Page of the Year

Cornishman, Trail of destruction left by storm’s force
Cornish Guardian, Triumphant return
Helston Packet, Storm force
North Devon Journal, Arson attack on school
Western Gazette, Yeovil hails heroes’ return

Radio News/Current Affairs Programme of the Year

BBC Cornwall, Laurence Reed Lunchtime Programme
BBC Gloucestershire, Saturday Breakfast with Claire Carter
BBC Somerset, Ben McGrail Programme
Heart FM Westcountry
Hospital Radio Plymouth

Television News/Current Affairs Programme of the Year

ITV Westcountry, Somerset Levels Flooding
ITV Westcountry, Dawlish Rail line

Weekly Newspaper of the Year (Free)

Midweek Herald
Nailsea, Clevedon and Portishead Times
North Devon Gazette

Weekly Newspaper of the Year (Paid for)

The Bath Chronicle
Cornish Guardian
Cornishman
North Devon Journal
Somerset County Gazette
Western Gazette

Daily Newspaper of the Year

Bristol Post
The Western Morning News