Twelve regional news titles will face a public vote for an annual award honouring the industry’s best investigations, campaigns and scoops.

The News Media Association has announced the nominations for is Making a Difference award, which has both regional and national categories.

All of the nominated titles in the regional category have received one nominated except for the Northern Echo, which has two places on the shortlist, while the Wolverhampton Express & Star and Shropshire Star are listed jointly.

The vote will take place during Journalism Matters week, which will run from 31 October to 6 November and aims to showcase the importance of journalism and the surge in demand for trusted news and information in challenging times.

NMA chief executive Owen Meredith said: “Campaigning by news media titles delivers real benefit for our society in all sorts of different areas. Part of the NMA’s Journalism Matters campaign, the Making a Difference showcase brings together these initiatives and tells the story of news media’s contribution to our democracy.”

The full list of nominees is as follows:

Birmingham Mail – FoodSoS
Bristol Post – Bristol Rent Crisis
Camden New Journal – UKraine CNJ Van
Essex Live – Essex Against Knives
Greenock Telegraph – Time to Talk
Hereford Times – Save the Wye
Liverpool Echo – Whose Side Are You On?
Manchester Evening News – Rochdale Freehold Estate
Northern Echo – When Will This End?
Northern Echo – Your Money Matters
South Wales Argus – Don’t Ditch Dragons
West Sussex Gazette – Save Our Sussex
Wolverhampton Express & Star/Shropshire Star – Feed A Family