Shortlist announced for the Regional Press Awards covering best in local news from 2017

The shortlist for the Society of Editors Regional Press Awards has been unveiled, showcasing the best in local newspaper journalism from last year.

The awards cover print, online and social media, with categories including weekly reporter of the year, scoop of the year and newspaper of the year.

Winners scheduled to be revealed at a lunchtime ceremony, held at the IET, Savoy Place, in London, on 18 May.

See the full shortlist below

Chairman of the judges, Paul Horrocks, said: “The depth and wide-ranging subjects displayed in the entries this year was excellent.

“Judges spent hours poring over the details, prompting lively debate which reflects the quality and passion of the regional and local press in the UK.

“As always, it was a difficult, but enjoyable task to separate so many outstanding, properly researched entries.”

The event will also see one local paper handed the People’s Choice Award, which is voted for by the public for the title that has made biggest difference to their community.

The awards ceremony will be hosted by LBC radio presenter Nick Ferrari.

Society of Editors Regional Press Awards 2017 Shortlist

Young journalist

Samantha Booth, Croydon Advertiser
Tom Deacon, WalesOnline
Richard Duggan, Essex Chronicle
Holly Lennon, Evening Times, Glasgow
Josh Parry, Liverpool Echo
Jess Walford, Wales Online

Business and finance journalist

Alistair Houghton, Liverpool Echo
Graham Huband, The Courier & Advertiser, Dundee
Robin Johnson, Derby Telegraph
Kevin Scott, The Herald, Glasgow
Graeme Whitfield, The Journal, Newcastle
Scott Wright, The Herald, Glasgow

Specialist writer/ impact journalist

Kieran Andrews, The Courier and Sunday Post
Paul Brackley, Cambridge Independent
Annie Gouk, Trinity Mirror Data Unit
Dan Grimmer, Eastern Daily Press
Pam McGowan, News & Star, Carlisle
Jennifer Williams, Manchester Evening News

Feature writer/ long-form journalist

Peter Barron, The Northern Echo
Aasma Day, Lancashire Post
Ruby Kitchen, The Yorkshire Post
Claire McNeilly, Belfast Telegraph
Chris Osuh, Manchester Evening News
Jennifer Williams, Manchester Evening News

Columnist

Emma Clayton, Telegraph & Argus, Bradford
Will Hayward, South Wales Echo
Bill Heine, Oxford Mail
Carolyn Hitt, Western Mail
Paul Kirkley, Cambridge Independent
Gail Walker, Belfast Telegraph

Weekly sports journalist

Richard Browne, Somerset County Gazette
Jon Colman, The Cumberland News
Daniel Evans, Bath Chronicle
Chris Harby, Melton Times
Les Reid, Coventry Observer
Mark Taylor, Cambridge Independent

Daily/ Sunday sports journalist

Neil Allen, The News, Portsmouth
Paul Davis, The Star, Sheffield
Mark Edwards, Oxford Mail
John Laverty, Belfast Telegraph
Neil Loughran, The Irish News
Cahair O’Kane, The Irish News

Social media journalist

Zoe Chamberlain, Birmingham Mail
Brendan Hughes, The Irish News
Cathy Owen, WalesOnline
David Pritchard, Oxford Mail
Lee Ryder, The Chronicle, Newcastle

Reporting communities award

Sam Jackson, The Star, Sheffield
Mark Taylor, Cambridge Independent
Michael Yong, Bristol Post

Weekly reporter

Phil Coleman, The Cumberland News
William McLennan, Camden New Journal
Les Reid, Coventry Observer
Stuart Rust, Witney Gazette
Charles Thomson, Yellow Advertiser
Emma Youle, Archant Investigations Unit

Daily/ Sunday reporter

Ciaran Barnes, Sunday Life
Gordon Blackstock, Sunday Post
Julia Breen, The Northern Echo
Jeanette Oldham, Birmingham Mail
Liz Perkins, South Wales Evening Post
Marion Scott, Sunday Post

Weekly photographer

Kate Buckingham, Hexham Courant
Phil Cannings, Newbury Weekly News
Michael Gillen, The Falkirk Herald
Ian Longthorne, Maidenhead Advertiser
Stuart Walker, The Cumberland News
Mark Williamson, Stratford-upon-Avon Herald

Daily/ Sunday photographer

Andrew Cawley, Sunday Post
Jonathan Gawthorpe, The Yorkshire Post
James Hardisty, The Yorkshire Post
Jonathan Myers, Media Wales
Kevin Scott, Belfast Telegraph
Tim Thursfield, Express & Star, Wolverhampton

Designer

Gary Beckwith, The Chronicle, Newcastle
Simon Hill, Express & Star, Wolverhampton
David Lewins, Bristol Post
Marianna Longo, Trinity Mirror Data Unit
Tracey Renowden, Western Morning News
Adam Walker, Trinity Mirror Regionals

Supplement of the year

Farming & Country, Hexham Courant
The Spirit of Manchester, Manchester Evening News
Weekend, Belfast Telegraph
Weekend, Western Mail
West, Western Morning News
YL, The Press & Journal, Aberdeen

Front page of the year

Cambridge as a Smart City, Cambridge Independent
Devastation, The Mail
Massacre, Manchester Evening News
Our hearts go out to you, Bristol Post
She was planning a wedding as he was planning a murder, Cambridge News
The stories that every islander should read, Jersey Evening Post

Scoop of the year

33 police officers say they were abused by disgraced force doctor, Eastern Daily Press
Cardiff dad named as mosque terror suspect, WalesOnline
Harrowing zoo death statistics revealed, The Mail
Hundreds of orphans buried in mass grave, Sunday Post
Jailed for 40 years, Liverpool Echo
Uni boss to be paid £230k for 6 months’ research, Bath Chronicle

Campaign of the year