Journalists at a city weekly scooped two prizes at their publisher’s new awards.

National World held its inaugural Editorial Excellence Awards on Thursday night, with a total of 15 honours handed down.

The editorial team at the Peterborough Telegraph were notably prolific in the individual categories, with Stephen Briggs winning Journalist of the Year and Adam Barker taking home Trainee Journalist of the Year.

Elsewhere, the Yorkshire Post was named National Digital Brand of the Year, with London World and the Derbyshire Times taking home the equivalent prizes for city and town/county titles respectively.

The Executive Chairman’s Award went to Neil Pickford, John Clerkin, Duncan Jackson and Chris Page for their coverage of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II which was syndicated across the group.

The awards ceremony, held at Headingley Stadium, in Leeds, was co-hosted by National World deputy editor-in-chief Gary Shipton and Nancy Fielder, editor-in-chief of the group’s Metro Worlds division.

Gary said: “As we worked through more than 100 entries for the 15 awards, the extraordinary talent, creativity and expertise of our journalists shone through.

“Whether they are taking video, recording podcasts, or bringing their own unique and trusted insights to key local stories, the professionalism of today’s reporters and videographers is outstanding.

“Their powerful investigative skills, for example in campaigning to reduce suicides among young people, was particularly notable. There was also no shortage of humour as demonstrated by a winning video of a biscuit dunking test.

“As we celebrate this level of achievement we can be hugely optimistic about the future of our industry. It was a great evening, full of laughter underpinned by our enormous pride.”

The full list of winners is as follows:

Best Use of Data: Martyn McLaughlin, The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday – Data Led Investigations 2022

Campaign of the Year: Alex Ross and Sophie Wills, Bristol World – Student Suicides at Bristol Universities

Lifestyle/Features Journalist of the Year: Abbey Maclure, Yorkshire Evening Post

Sports Journalist of the Year: Jordan Cross, Portsmouth News

Trainee Journalist of the Year: Adam Barker, Peterborough Telegraph

Video of the Year: Iain Lynn, Lancashire Post- National Biscuit Day

Journalist of the Year: Stephen Briggs, the Peterborough Telegraph

Story of the Year: Claire Wilde, NationalWorld – The Silent Sufferers of Britain’s Mental Health Pandemic

Digital Engagement of the Year: David Hepburn, The Scotsman – Dog Content/The Scotsdog Facebook Group

Town/County Digital Brand of the Year: Derbyshire Times

City Digital Brand of the Year: London World

National Digital Brand of the Year: The Yorkshire Post

Most Improved Brand of the Year: Farming Life

Front Page of the Year: Derry Journal