The Society of Editors has hailed regional newspapers as being at the “cutting edge of digital journalism” amid a final call for entries to this year’s Regional Press Awards.

This year’s awards include several new categories aimed at honouring digital performance – including Digital Live News Reporter of the Year and Data Journalist of the Year.

Other new categories on offer include Magazine of the Year, Magazine Designer of the Year and Free Weekly Newspaper of the Year, as well as The Cathryn Nicoll Interviewer of the Year Award.

Journalists have until Tuesday 5 March to submit their entries.

SoE executive director Ian Murray, pictured, said: “There may be an erroneous impression that local newspapers and newsrooms are not at the cutting edge of digital journalism, which is completely wrong.

“Anyone who works in regional and local newspapers today understands that their papers will be making full use of the latest data-driven information and presenting it in ever more imaginative and innovative ways.

“That’s why the Regional Press Awards this year include such new categories as Data Journalist of the Year that seeks to reward the fantastic work being done to interpret the wealth of data available, bringing important information to local readers that helps them make decisions that affect their lives.

“The new Digital Live News and Sports Reporter categories recognise the local journalists who are working hard to take their on-line readers to the heart of the action in their areas as it happens.

“These are important skills to recognise, not only because they reward those journalists who have grasped the role such innovations play in the delivery of news, sport and information but also to enable the industry to shout about how it is working at the cutting edge of media skills.”

For more information on how to enter, click here.