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Regional journalism awards schemes shelved as O2 withdraws sponsorship

Two regional journalism award schemes have been scrapped for 2020 after their headline sponsor withdrew financial support.

Rossiter Media, organiser of the Yorkshire and North West Media Awards, has revealed O2 has withdrawn its sponsorship of the events.

Rossiter said O2’s decision, coupled with health concerns over coronavirus, meant both awards events would be postponed for 2020.

O2 has sponsored the awards in both regions since 2007. The company is now on the lookout for a new sponsor for the 2021 events.

The winners at last year's awards in the North-West

The winners at last year’s awards in the North-West

Mark Rossiter, from Rossiter Media, said: “We’ve been fortunate to have the support of O2 from the very beginning.

“We’re saddened O2 has chosen to bow out of sponsoring future awards events, but we are looking forward to the return of the media awards, with new sponsors, in 2021.”

An O2 spokesman added: “O2 has proudly sponsored the Media Awards since 2007, celebrating the fantastic work of regional journalists in their communities.

“The awards have highlighted how local and regional journalists can and do make a real difference to people’s lives. It has been a privilege to support this celebration of all that is good about regional media.

“Sadly after 12 years of our involvement, we have decided that we cannot continue to support these awards as we focus our sponsorships on fewer partnerships.

“We’d like to thank all of the media outlets that have so enthusiastically contributed to the success of the awards over the past 12 years. It has been an honour to be part of it.”