Two sister dailies’ annual Christmas campaign has been named the industry’s best of the past year following a public vote.

Midland News Association newspapers the Shropshire Star and Wolverhampton’s Express & Star have triumphed in the Making a Difference award, which aims to recognise the best investigations, campaigns and scoops in the regional press.

The papers have won the prize for their ‘Feed a Family’ campaign, in which both titles team up with food banks from across the West Midlands for a major push to stock up supplies ahead of Christmas.

The Sun’s campaign ‘Give It Back’, which aimed to help highlight the £573m funding gap for disabled children, won the equivalent national category.

The Making a Difference scheme is run annually as part of Journalism Matters week, which is organised by the News Media Association.

NMA chief executive Owen Meredith said: “Many congratulations to The Express and Star and The Sun for winning the 2022 Making a Difference Award for the best national and local campaign.

“This year’s entries demonstrate the remarkable landscape of UK journalism today, highlighting the importance of trusted and quality journalism as well as showcasing news media’s powerful ability in delivering agenda-setting investigations, campaigns and scoops to the public.

“The winning campaigns, Give It Back and Feed A Family, are outstanding examples of the vital role journalism plays in our society, from informing and engaging the public to fundraising and raising awareness of important causes.

“The teams behind these campaigns should be immensely proud of their achievements.”