The saga of
David Blunkett’s affair was clearly the story of 2004, with three
separate stories making the shortlist for the prestigious scoop of the
year category in the British Press Awards.
The News of the World, The Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Telegraph are all vying for the title with Blunkett-related splashes.
The
first set of shortlists, for 19 of the 27 categories, are published
today and show that Sunday newspapers had a bumper year. The Sunday
Times and Sunday Telegraph top the list so far, with 12 and 11
shortlisted entries respectively.
The Mail on Sunday also makes double figures.
Journalists
at the Daily Telegraph may be able to briefly take their minds off job
fears with the news that they head the list of dailies, with ten
shortlisted entries.
In the reporter of the year category,
considered by many to be the highest individual accolade in journalism,
The Sun has two shortlisted journalists in Trevor Kavanagh and John
Askill.
There’s also a chance that the sports reporter of the
year will stay not just with the same paper, but with the same family.
The Sun ‘s Shaun Custis is shortlisted for the award- the current
holder is his brother Neil.
Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 15 March at the London Hilton.
One
name on the shortlist will be of particular interest to the host for
the evening, Andrew Marr. Jackie Ashley, shortlisted as political
journalist of the year, happens to be his wife.
Shortlists for the remaining categories will be published next week.
For full listing click here
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