The Manchester Evening News has scooped a hat-trick of awards for its highly-acclaimed coverage of this year’s terror attacks in the city, with judges saying it had become “the reference point of journalists across the world.”

The MEN scooped Best Daily Newspaper prize, along with Best Editorial Print Team and the Online Journalism award as this year’s O2 Media Awards North West were handed out a ceremony in Manchester last night.

The Best Daily Newspaper award was presented by Martin Hibbert, a survivor who was left paralysed by the 22 May suicide bombing.

And in addition to the two other team prizes, a special O2 Journalism Award was presented to the MEN’s Jennifer Williams for her exclusive investigation into the use of the drug Spice in Manchester city centre.

The MEN won Daily Newspaper of the Year

The judges said: “On the night of the Manchester attack, and in the four days that followed, the Manchester Evening News led the way. Its coverage was thorough, balanced and useful to everyone affected.

“There can be no higher compliment paid, other than to say that the paper and its website became the reference point of journalists from across the world.

“It had been an exceptional year for the Evening News. Its coverage of the Manchester bomb was unrivalved and it had also revealed the impact the drug known as Spice was having across the city. An excellent performance.

“In those dark hours that followed the terror attack at the Manchester Arena, the Evening News established its website as the “go-to” place for those wanting information, advice and support. It became the trusted site for millions in the immediate aftermath of the bomb.”

Elsewhere, the Cumberland News was named Best Weekly Newspaper, one of four awards for the CN Group.

And the Liverpool Echo scooped two awards with Ian Cooper winning Image of the Year and Tom Belger triumphing in the Young Print Journalist category.

The awards, at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, were hosted by BBC Breakfast’s Louise Minchin and Dave Massey, head of corporate communications at O2.

They were attended by 300 journalists and media executives from TV, radio and print organisations across the region.

Nicola Green, director of corporate affairs at O2, said: “This was an unprecedented year of news events across the North West. The awards demonstrate the importance and value of the regional media in our communities.

“We were honoured to host some of the families and victims of the Manchester Arena attack and humbled to hear the stories of community champions who make such a difference to the lives of others.”

The full list of winners is as follows:

Image of the Year (Still photography)

Winner
Ian Cooper – Liverpool Echo & Daily Post

Highly Commended
Colin Lane – Liverpool Echo
Jason Roberts – Liverpool Echo
Stuart Walker – CN Group
Vincent Cole – Manchester Evening News

Image of the Year (Moving pictures)

Winner
Jake Harvey – That’s Lancashire

Highly Commended
Dave Guest – BBC North West Tonight
Martin Brough – The Sentinel, Stoke

Best Writer

Winner
Richard Ault – The Sentinel, Stoke

Highly Commended
Louise Allonby – The Mail
Michaela Robinson Tate – CN Group
Natalie Walker – Lancashire Post

Young Journalist (Print)

Winner
Tom Belger – Liverpool Echo

Highly Commended
Connor Dunn – Liverpool Echo
Lee Wilde – Tameside Reporter
Kate McMullin – Liverpool Echo
Becky Loton – The Sentinel, Stoke

Young Journalist (Broadcast)

Winner
Elizabeth Baines – That’s Lancashire

Highly Commended
Inzy Rashid – BBC Radio Manchester
Matt Jones – Radio City
Beth Excell – That’s Lancashire
Michael Worrall – ITV Granada Reports

Broadcast Presenter

Winner
Graham Liver – BBC Radio Lancashire

Highly Commended
Roger Johnson – BBC North West Tonight
Lucy Meacock – ITV Granada Reports

TV Journalist

Winner
Clare Fallon – BBC North West Tonight

Highly Commended
Paul Faulkner – That’s Lancashire
Amy Welch – ITV Granada Reports
Sarah Rogers – ITV Granada Reports

Best Team (Broadcast)

Winner
BBC Radio Manchester

Highly Commended
That’s Lancashire
Key 103

Best Team (Print)

Winner
Manchester Evening News

Highly Commended
The Mail
Lancashire Post

News Reporter (Print)

Winner
Caroline Barber – The Mail

Highly Commended
Alistair Houghton – Liverpool Echo
Joe Thomas – Liverpool Echo

News Reporter (Broadcast)

Winner
Elaine Willcox – ITV Granada Reports

Highly Commended
Andy Gill – BBC North West Tonight
Mel Barham – ITV Granada Reports
Andy Bonner – ITV Granada Reports

Most Memorable (Print)

Winner
The Mail – Zoo deaths investigation

Highly Commended
Manchester Evening News – Arena bomb coverage
Lancashire Post – Arena bombing

Most Memorable (Broadcast)

Winner
BBC Radio Manchester – Manchester Arena bomb

Highly Commended
BBC North West Tonight – Manchester Arena bomb
Radio City – Paul Nuttall exposed
Global Radio – Manchester Arena bomb

Community Journalism

Winner
Radio City

Highly Commended
Warrington Guardian
2BR
Tameside Reporter

Radio Journalist

Winner
Kate West – BBC Radio Manchester

Highly Commended
Amy Scarisbrick – Key 103
Anna Hodges – Global Radio
Tim Padfield – BBC Radio Lancashire

Best Newspaper (Daily)

Winner
Manchester Evening News

Highly Commended
Bolton News
Lancashire Telegraph
The Mail

Best Newspaper (Weekly)

Winner
Cumberland News

Highly Commended
Westmorland Gazette
Leyland Guardian
Warrington Guardian
Crewe Chronicle

Sports Journalist (Print)

Winner
Tyrone Marshall – Lancashire Telegraph

Highly Commended
Jon Colman – News & Star
Andrew Simpson – Northwich Guardian

Sports Journalist (Broadcast)

Winner
Mike Hall – ITV Granada Reports

Highly Commended
Chris Hall – ITV Granada Reports
Stuart Pollitt – BBC North West Tonight

On-Line Journalism

Winner
Manchester Evening News

Highly Commended
Liverpool Echo
Southport Visiter
Liverpool Echo – What’s On Team

On-Line Journalist

Winner
Adam McClean – ITV Granada Reports

Community Publication

Winner
Asian Image

Highly Commended
Tameside Reporter
Good News Liverpool

Best Magazine

Winner
Carlisle Living – CN Specialist Magazines

Highly Commended
Business Post – Trinity Mirror
Lancashire Life – Archant
Primary Knowledge – Oldham Chronicle
Staffordshire Life – Staffordshire Newspapers

O2 Stand Out Awards

Winners
Knutsford Guardian
David Jones – Glossop Chronicle
Ian St. John – Radio City

Best News Programme

Joint Winners
ITV Granada Reports – Manchester Arena Bomb
BBC North West Tonight – Manchester Arena Bomb

Highly Commended
True North – Mystery of the Man on the Moor

Best Sports Programme

Winner
ITV Granada Reports – Olympic/Paralympic Parade

Highly Commended
Made in Liverpool – Across the Park
Radio City – Fight Disciples

Best Entertainment Programme

Winner
True North – The Lie Detective

Highly Commended
BBC Radio Lancashire – Alfie Boe
True North – Teen Mom UK

Specialist Publication

Winner
All Together Now

Highly Commended
Business Post – Trinity Mirror
The Place To Be – The Sentinel, Stoke
Primary Knowledge – Oldham Chronicle
Portrait of Cumbria – CN Specialist Magazines

Vlog/Blogger Award

Winner
Rachael Bland – BBC North West Tonight

Highly Commended
Samantha Yarwood – Manchester Evening News
Sarah Hodgson – Daily Post
Mike Parsons & Matt Turner – Warrington Guardian
Jodie Murray & Tom Atterton – BBC North West Tonight