The husband of murdered MP Jo Cox has paid tribute to the local press in Yorkshire as the region’s media celebrated their annual awards night.
Brendan Cox told journalists at last night’s O2 Media Awards that the local media had a vital role in “bringing communities together” and thanked Yorkshire journalists for “everything they had done to honour his wife’s memory”.
His comments came as the Yorkshire Evening Post was named Daily Newspaper of the Year for the region hours after its editor, Nicola Furbisher, announced to staff that she was leaving at the end of the year.
The Hull Daily Mail won five of the 22 awards on offer, including a double win for reporter and feature writer Kevin Shoesmith, while the Yorkshire Post won four, including best print team and best website.
Mr Cox was one of a number of special guests who praised local and regional journalists at the awards ceremony held at the Northern Ballet in Leeds.
He said: “I wanted to tell you how much Jo valued local and regional media. She often talked about the key role you had in breaking down the prejudice and insularity of different community groups and bringing people together. That role will become even more necessary in the months and years ahead.
“I also want to thank you for the way you have focused on Jo’s life, her ideas, beliefs and values, rather than just on the way she was taken from us.”
Yorkshire born MP and mother of two Jo Cox died after being shot and stabbed on her way to a constituency surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire, in June. The man accused of her murder is scheduled to go on trial next month.
The evening saw Johnston Press titles take away the lion’s share of the honours with the YP, YEP, Sheffield Star and Scarborough News all among the prizes.
As well as picking up the Daily Newspaper prize, the YEP won the Community Journalism Award for its ‘Be a Hero’ campaign to boost organ donors across the region.
The News was named best weekly newspaper while The Star’s Danny Hall was named best sports journalist.
And Scoop of the Year went to the YP for reporter Rob Waugh’s investigation into overtime payments made to senior fire officers in South Yorkshire.
The full list of winners is as follows:
News Reporter: Kevin Shoesmith – Hull Daily Mail
Specialist Reporter: Allison Coggan – Hull Daily Mail, and Danni Hewson – BBC Look North
Feature Writer: Kevin Shoesmith – Hull Daily Mail
Best Website: Yorkshire Post
Specialist Publication: Hull Daily Mail – City 2015-16
Television Journalist: Christine Talbot – ITV Calendar
Sports Journalist: Danny Hall – The Star, Sheffield
Young Journalist: Ben Blosse – Hull Daily Mail
Images of the Year (Stills): James Hardisty – Yorkshire Post
Moving Images: Mark Graham – BBC Look North
Radio Journalist: Kat Harbourne – BBC Radio Sheffield
Scoop: Yorkshire Post – Fire chiefs’ expenses
On-Line Media Award: Insider Media
Daily Newspaper: Yorkshire Evening Post
Weekly Newspaper: Scarborough News
Team of the Year (Print): Yorkshire Post
Team of the Year (Broadcast): BBC Radio York
Weekly Newspaper Reporter: Katia Harston – Barnsley Chronicle
Community Journalism Award: Yorkshire Evening Post – Be A Hero
Broadcast Presenter (Radio): David Burns – BBC Radio Humberside
Broadcast Presenter (TV): Duncan Wood – ITV Yorkshire
Best Magazine: The Dalesman
O2 Stand Out Award: BBC Look North – Harry Gration & Paul Hudson