A regional journalist has won an awards double for his news and sports reporting.

Mark Harcus, of Orkney title The Orcadian, was named Journalist of the Year and Sports Reporter of the Year at the annual Highlands and Islands Media Awards.

Mark, pictured, had been shortlisted across a total of five categories ahead of Friday’s (3) ceremony in Inverness.

The Business Writer of the Year, Environment and Sustainability Writer of the Year and Reporter of the Year prizes, for which he was also nominated, were won by Aberdeen Press & Journal journalists Peter Ranscombe, Donna MacAllister and Stuart Findlay respectively.

Mark’s Orcadian colleague Ethan Flett took home the Young Reporter of the Year prize, while long-serving photographer Ken Amer made it a hat-trick for Orkney by being presented with a Special Recognition Award for his contribution to journalism on the island over 37 years and for promoting an important health message surrounding prostate cancer.

Judging panel chair Gordon Fyfe said: “Mark is a worthy winner of our top individual award for demonstrating ability across news, sports and feature writing.

“His work is consistently of a very high quality and contributes hugely to the excellent service the Orcadian delivers to its readers.”

The full list of award winners is as follows:

Environment and Sustainability (Highland Tourism Award)
Donna MacAllister, Press & Journal

Business Writer of the Year
Peter Ranscombe, Press & Journal

Gaelic Writer of the Year (Bòrd na Gàidhlig Award)
Angus Peter Campbell, West Highland Free Press

Young Reporter of the Year (Alex Main Trophy)
Ethan Flett, Orcadian

Sports Writer of the Year
Mark Harcus, Orcadian

Photographer of the Year
Paul Campbell, Inverness Freelance

Reporter of the Year (Jim Love Memorial Trophy)
Stuart Findlay, Press & Journal

Feature Writer of the Year
Andrew Henderson, Highland News and Media

Community Newspaper of the Year
Chatterbox, Black Isle

Newspaper of the Year
West Highland Free Press

Diageo Journalist of the Year
Mark Harcus, Orcadian

Barron Trophy for Lifetime Achievement
Donald Wilson, Nairn

Special Recognition Award
Ken Amer, Orkney