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Weekly reporter scoops two gongs in newspaper’s awards hat-trick

A weekly reporter scooped two gongs as part of a hat-trick of awards won by her newspaper.

The Rutherglen Reformer’s Edel Kenealy won Reporter of the Year and Scoop of the Year at this year’s Media Scotland Regional Editorial Awards.

The Reformer also won Newspaper of the Year at the ceremony, which honours 17 titles owned by Media Scotland, which is part of Trinity Mirror.

Edel’s winning scoop revealed a man who sadly took his own life had twice visited a mental health facility on the day he died.

Reformer reporters Murray Spooner, Edel Kenealy and Jonathan Geddes receive their award from boxer Ricky Burns (second left)

Reformer reporters Murray Spooner, Edel Kenealy and Jonathan Geddes receive their award from boxer Ricky Burns (second left)

Media Scotland Publishing Director Jonathan Russell said: “Once again these awards demonstrate the skill and passion our staff show. The quality of winners and nominees was extremely high.

“Many of our newspaper teams are performing brilliantly, both in print and digitally. But the Rutherglen Reformer is our newspaper of the year in recognition of its superb circulation performance and growth in online audience.

“They’re broken a number of great stories this year while ensuring that readers still get a great service of community news and grass roots sport. The Reformer is everything a great local newspaper should be.”

The full list of winners was:

Campaign of the Year – Lennox Herald, Save our Services

Digital Team of the Year – Irvine Herald

Sportswriter of the Year – Paul Thomson, East Kilbride News

Commercial Award – Mike Wilson and Stephen Houston, Ayrshire Post

Photographer of the Year – Euan McCall, Ayrshire Post

Young Journalist of the Year – Carla Talbot, Lennox Herald

Circulation Performance – Wishaw Press

Most Improved Circulation Performance – Paisley Daily Express

Unsung Hero – Ian Bunting, Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser

Reporter of the Year – Edel Kenealy, Rutherglen Reformer

Scoop of the Year – Edel Kenealy, Rutherglen Reformer

Production of the Year – Shared between Maurice Coyne, Regionals Production Unit, and Paul Massey, Paisley Daily Express

Journalist of the Year – Gavin McInally, Paisley Daily Express

Newspaper of the Year – Rurherglen Reformer

Lifetime Achievement Award – John Murdoch