A weekly newspaper’s campaign calling for investment in struggling rural communities has become the first winner of a new journalism award.

The Oban Times won the Highlands and Islands Media Awards’ Campaign of the Year prize for its Invest in the West drive.

The campaign was launched to highlight the pressing need for investment in rural and outlying communities struggling with a failing ferry service, lack of housing and a depopulation crisis.

It led to a motion calling for action in the Scottish Parliament and a visit to the area by First Minister Humza Yousaf to see the challenges for himself.

All of the winners with their trophies. Credit: Alison White

Oban Times head of online content Brian Hossack said: “The campaign was something we were very proud of as a newsroom and we saw off some very strong competition from other great publications to win.

“We will continue to push for change, and our new West Coast Today website, which brings all of our brands together under one umbrella, is the perfect platform to do that.”

Group editor Susan Windram added: “While The Oban Times team are delighted to have received the recognition of our peers for our campaign, the fight doesn’t stop here.

“This is just the beginning, because we will continue to fight for a better deal for all the people who live in Argyll and Bute, in Lochaber and on all the islands.”

The award was handed out at the 35th annual edition of the Highlands and Islands Press Ball, attended by nearly 250 media representatives, politicians and heads of public and private organisations from across the region.

The Shetland Times was named Newspaper of the Year and The Ileach, which serves Islay and Jura, won Community Newspaper of the Year.

There was a hat-trick of awards for Iain MacInnes, BBC Scotland’s senior journalist in the Highlands and Islands, who was named Journalist of the Year, Reporter of the Year and Environment and Sustainability Reporter of the Year.

The Highland News and Media Group received four awards, including Website of the Year, Young Journalist of the Year (Iona MacDonald), Business Writer of the Year (Ewan Malcolm) and Photographer of the Year (Beth Taylor.)

The ball has now raised nearly £120,000 for good causes, with all the money staying in the Highlands and Islands.

Ball chairman John Ross said: “We are delighted the Press Ball continues to bring together colleagues from across the area where they are an essential part of local communities.

“Our charity fundraising is also a vital part of the occasion and we are extremely pleased to be able to contribute in a small way to some fantastic local causes.”

The full list of award winners was:

Environment and Sustainability (Highland Tourism Award) – Iain MacInnes, BBC
Business Writer of the Year (Inverness Chamber of Commerce) – Ewan Malcolm, Highland News and Media
Gaelic Writer of the Year (Bòrd na Gàidhlig Award) – Angus Peter Campbell, West Highland Free Press
Young Reporter of the Year (Alex Main Trophy) – Iona MacDonald, Inverness Courier
Sports Writer of the Year (Bill McAllister Memorial Trophy) – Eric Mackinnon, Stornoway Gazette
Photographer of the Year – Beth Taylor, Highland News and Media
Reporter of the Year (Jim Love Memorial Trophy) – Iain MacInnes, BBC
Feature Writer of the Year – Stuart Findlay, Press and Journal
Community Newspaper of the Year – The Ileach, Islay
Newspaper of the Year – Shetland Times
Web site of the Year – Inverness Courier
Campaign of the Year – Oban Times
Diageo Journalist of the Year – Iain MacInnes, BBC
Barron Trophy for Lifetime Achievement – Gordon Fyfe, Inverness