A record number of journalists will vie for the title of daily news reporter of the year at the forthcoming Midlands Media Awards.
Organiser the Birmingham Press Club has revealed a total of 35 journalists from across the region have been nominated for the accolade, ahead of the final shortlist being revealed at the end of this month.
The total number of entries received for the 22 categories on offer has matched last year’s best-ever figure of 300.
Entries in each of the categories are being assessed by leading PR consultants, communications specialists, broadcasters and writers as part of a thorough two-stage process that sees shortlisted entries go forward to a final judging panel chaired by Peter Lowe, managing editor at Sky News.
The shortlist will be announced on 31 July. The final judging panel will then decide the winners.
Ed James, pictured above left, chairman of Birmingham Press Club, said: “Such an impressive response from the region’s broadcasters, photographers and journalists is, I believe, a clear indication of their professionalism – and speaks volumes for their commitment towards maintaining a healthy and vibrant media sector in the Midlands.”
The awards ceremony will take place at The Holte Suite, Villa Park, Birmingham, on Thursday 10 September.
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When we have the constant threat of redundancy hanging over us, we tend to rush for the entry forms.
It also helps that you’re almost guaranteed a mention on the shortlist merely for submitting an entry.
But then, as most of us on with Trinity Mirror know, what good does having a few awards do when all you want is to keep your job?
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I always applaud what the Press Club does and this kind of competition is always healthy but in the wake of such unprofessional managements shouldn’t there be an award for a ‘management grow up’ award. They are destroying our industry as cash is King. Each time I tell my local regional daily that I was unable to get a paper and know others who had the same problem, they do nothing and just leave it to W.H Smith who couldn’t care less anyway. As it is I can only get the ‘Black Country Mail’ here which I’m grateful for but is that right???
Hopefully the Government can do something for the regions as democracy dies when local weeklies die. BBC local radio cannot fill the gab as they feed off the weeklies anywayand go not have the local contacts. end of moans, Ken Jackson
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