Northern Irish titles took two of the three top local news prizes on offer at the 2024 Newspaper Awards

The Irish News chalked up yet another major award by being named Regional Newspaper of the Year at the annual awards, which focus on excellence in print production.

Judges commented that “The Irish News was clearly in tune with its readers and had fantastic production values.”

The Yorkshire Evening Post was highly commended in the category, while other commendations went to the Express & Star, Shropshire Star, Southern Daily Echo and The Journal.

Also among the prizes was the Impartial Reporter, which was named Weekly Newspaper of the Year.

It was praised by judges as a “strong campaigning paper which exudes a joyful community spirit.”

The Hyperlocal Newspaper of the Year category was heavily subscribed with over 30 entries and was won for the second successive year by The Peckham Peculiar.

Judges commented that “it’s passion for Peckham and its residents shone through on every page.”

Last night’s ceremony was hosted by TV rugby sports presenter Mark Durden-Smith at the London Hilton Bankside in front of over 300 guests.

Gary Cullum, director of The Newspaper Awards, says: “For the second successive year The Newspaper Awards focused entirely on print, recognising the hugely important role that print continues to play.

“There’s no denying we live in the digital age, with tech giants commanding the advertisers’ pound. But, for many, newspapers and genuine, trusted news brands remain an essential part of daily life.

“The quality and quantity of entry to The 2024 Newspaper Awards is testament to the continuing resilience of the industry.”

The full list of winners was as follows:

NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PRINTER OF THE YEAR: Newsprinters (The Times, The Sunday Times)
Highly Commended: Reach Printing Services – Watford (Daily Star, The Guardian)

NEWSPAPER EMPLOYEE/TEAM OF THE YEAR: Reach Printing Services – Reducing energy consumption
Highly Commended: The Irish News – Re-branding of The Irish News

INTERNATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR: Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (Germany)
Highly Commended: Børneavisen (Denmark)

REGIONAL NEWSPAPER PRINTER OF THE YEAR: Interpress NI (The Irish News)
Highly Commended: Iliffe Print (Grantham Journal, Bishop’s Stortford Independent, City A.M., Inside Magazines)

NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR: i newspaper
Highly Commended: The Guardian

REGIONAL NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR: The Irish News
Highly Commended: Yorkshire Evening Post

WEEKEND NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR: FT Weekend
Highly Commended: The Sunday Times

LOCAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR: The Impartial Reporter
Highly Commended: Lymington Times & New Milton Advertiser

HYPERLOCAL NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR: The Peckham Peculiar
Highly Commended: The Edinburgh Reporter

NATIONAL SUPPLEMENT/MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR (WEEKLY): Saturday (The Guardian)
Highly Commended: The Sunday Times Magazine

NATIONAL SUPPLEMENT/MAGAZINE (NON-WEEKLY):  LUXX (The Times)
Highly Commended: LUXURY (The Telegraph)

REGIONAL SUPPLEMENT/MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR: Belfast Telegraph Weekend (Mediahuis) and Velvet (Iliffe Media)

NICHE MARKET NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR: TLS
Highly Commended: The New European