The Regional Press Awards recognise excellence throughout the regional and local press during the unprecedented times posed by COVID-19.
The awards are supported by Facebook Journalism Project, Camelot, Google News Initiative, Amazon, HoldTheFrontPage, the Journalists’ Charity and the News Media Association.
Sarah Brown, Facebook’s Head of Northern Europe News Partnerships, said: “It has been a remarkable 18 months by any standards and the courage, bravery and incredible work all the journalists and teams nominated have done has been truly inspiring. Please keep up your extraordinary work reporting on communities across the country, helping them keep informed in times of crisis. It is remarkable work and I'm glad it is being rewarded.”
Dawn Alford, Executive Director of the Society of Editors commented: “The work done by the journalists, photographers, designers and editors showcased in these awards is inspiring. In such a difficult period of time, their work has been essential in keeping the public informed, campaigning on issues, making us laugh and making us cry.”
Regional Press Awards for 2020
YOUNG JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Amazon
Andra Maciuca, Saffron Walden Reporter and Dunmow Broadcast
Conor Matchett, The Scotsman/Edinburgh Evening News
Highly commended: Jack Aitchison, Glasgow Times
BUSINESS & FINANCE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Martin Williams, The Herald and Herald on Sunday
Highly commended: Coreena Ford, The Journal
Highly commended: Hannah Baker, Bristol Post/BusinessLive South West
SPECIALIST WRITER/IMPACT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Liam Thorp, Liverpool Echo
Highly commended: Dale Haslam, DC Thomson Media
FEATURE WRITER/LONG FORM JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Teddy Jamieson, The Herald (Scotland)
Highly commended: David Owens, Western Mail
COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR
Paul Kirkley, Cambridge Independent
Highly commended: Neil Mackay, The Herald and Herald on Sunday (Scotland)
SOCIAL MEDIA JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Facebook Journalism Project
Samantha Yarwood, Manchester Evening News
Highly commended: John Wilson, Hereford Times
SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – WEEKLY PAPERS
Jon Colman, The Cumberland News
Highly commended: Mark Taylor, Cambridge Independent
SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – DAILY/SUNDAY PAPERS
Matt Maher, Express & Star
Highly commended: Paul Ferguson, Sunday Life
REPORTING COMMUNITIES AWARD
Abbie Wightwick, WalesOnline
Thomas Kingsley, MyLondon
Highly commended: Conor Gogarty, Bristol Live
Highly commended: Catriona Stewart, Glasgow Times and The Herald
DATA JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Will Hayward, WalesOnline/Western Mail
Highly commended: Lesley-Anne Kelly, DC Thomson Media
DIGITAL LIVE NEWS REPORTER OF THE YEAR
Neil Docking, Liverpool Echo
Highly commended: Jonathan Macpherson, Lancs Live
WEEKLY REPORTER OF THE YEAR
Charles Thomson, Archant Investigations Unit
Highly commended: Bronwen Weatherby, Camden New Journal
DAILY/SUNDAY REPORTER OF THE YEAR
Emily Townsend, East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star
Highly commended: Ciaran Barnes, Sunday Life
THE CATHRYN NICOLL AWARD
In association with the NMA
Sian Bayley, MyLondon
WEEKLY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
John McVitty, Impartial Reporter
Highly commended: Mark Williamson, Stratford-upon-Avon Herald
DAILY/SUNDAY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Scott, Belfast Telegraph
Highly commended: Colm O’Reilly, Sunday Life
DESIGNER OF THE YEAR: NEWSPAPERS
Georgia Robinson, Eastern Daily Press
Highly commended: Gary Beckwith, Newcastle Chronicle
Highly commended: Nancy Fallows, Eastern Daily Press
Highly commended: Ian Bond, Hull Daily Mail
DESIGNER OF THE YEAR: MAGAZINES/SUPPLEMENTS
Georgia Robinson, Eastern Daily Press
Highly commended: Nancy Fallows, Eastern Daily Press
SUPPLEMENT/SECTION OF THE YEAR
The Business, Eastern Daily Press
Highly commended: Weekend, Belfast Telegraph
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT OF THE YEAR
Glastonbury 50, County Gazette
Highly commended: Cumberland & Westmorland Herald: 160 years
MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR
Cumbria Life
Highly commended: The Herald Magazine,Scotland
FRONT PAGE OF THE YEAR – WEEKLY PAPERS
Sponsored by HoldTheFrontPage
We didn’t get to say goodbye, Impartial Reporter
Highly commended: ‘Be safe, be careful and don't do anything I wouldn't do’, WokinghamToday
FRONT PAGE OF THE YEAR – DAILY/SUNDAY PAPERS
Sponsored by HoldTheFrontPage
Middlesbrough needs... Intensive Care, The Gazette
Highly commended: Our Life in Lockdown, Hull Daily Mail
SCOOP OF THE YEAR
Coronavirus in Welsh care homes – the disaster that didn't have to happen, WalesOnline
Highly commended: Safe House sting sinks new IRA, Sunday Life
Highly commended: The arrest of Joe Anderson, Liverpool Echo
CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Death in care: Families fighting for justice for their failed loved ones, Essex Live
Highly commended: BrumWish, Birmingham Mail/Birmingham Live
Highly commended: Cambridgeshire Coronavirus Fund, Cambridge News
WEBSITE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Google News Initiative
Manchester Evening News
Highly commended: Plymouth Live
SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Facebook Journalism Project
Yorkshire Live
Highly commended: Glasgow Times Digital Team
DIGITAL INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Facebook Journalism Project
The Mill newsletter, Manchester
Highly commended: Robot reporter updates local audiences on coronavirus infection rates, Manchester Evening News
THE OVERALL DIGITAL AWARD
Sponsored by Facebook Journalism Project
Manchester Evening News
Highly commended: Wales Online
SPECIAL 2020 AWARD
Aberdeen Journals Home Delivery Team, The Press & Journal
Highly commended: Newsquest Regional ACE network (Team RACE)
PAID FOR WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR (BELOW 50,000 TOTAL MONTHLY REACH)
Sponsored by Camelot
The Hexham Courant
Highly commended: Cumberland & Westmorland Herald
Highly commended: The Ulster Herald
PAID FOR WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR (ABOVE 50,000 TOTAL MONTHLY REACH)
Sponsored by Camelot
Warrington Guardian
Highly commended: Kent Messenger
Highly commended: Kentish Gazette
DAILY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR (BELOW 400,000 MONTHLY REACH)
Sponsored by Camelot
Jersey Evening Post
Highly commended: The Argus (Brighton)
DAILY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR (ABOVE 400,000 MONTHLY REACH)
Sponsored by Camelot
Liverpool Echo
Highly commended: The Courier(Scotland)
Highly commended: Belfast Telegraph
SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Camelot
The Herald on Sunday (Scotland)
Highly commended: Sunday Life (Northern Ireland)
FREE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Camelot
Jewish News
Camden New Journal
Highly commended: Islington Tribune
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