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
- #WeStandTogether, Manchester Evening News
- Cleaner Coastlines, Weston, Worle and Somerset Mercury
- Frank’s Law, The Courier & Advertiser, Dundee
- Opt For Life, Evening Times, Glasgow
- Reaching out to rough sleepers, South Wales Echo
- Your Right to Know, Hexham Courant
Website of the year
- Gazette Live
- KentOnline
- Manchester Evening News
- The Yorkshire Post
- WalesOnline
- Warrington Guardian
Social media team
- Birmingham Live
- ChronicleLive
- Eastern Daily Press
- Hull Daily Mail
- Manchester Evening News
- WalesOnline
Digital initiative of the year
- Belfast Telegraph
- Birmingham Mail
- Eastern Daily Press
- Manchester Evening News
- Media Wales
- Trinity Mirror Regionals
The overall digital award
- Birmingham Mail
- Eastern Daily Press
- Liverpool Echo
- Manchester Evening News
- Media Wales
- Trinity Mirror Data Unit
Innovation and initiative award
- Eastern Daily Press
- The Bristol Cable
- The Yorkshire Post
- Trinity Mirror Data Unit
Weekly newspaper (below 15,000)
- Accrington Observer
- Bucks Free Press
- Bury Times
- Cambridge Independent
- Hexham Courant
- Newry Reporter
Weekly newspaper (above 15,000)
- Camden New Journal
- Hereford Times
- Kent Messenger
- Stourbridge News
- The Cumberland News
- The Westmorland Gazette
Daily/ Sunday (below 20,000)
- Cambridge News
- News & Star, Carlisle
- South Wales Echo
- South Wales Evening Post
- The Journal, Newcastle
- The Mail
Daily/ Sunday (above 20,000)
- Belfast Telegraph
- Hull Daily Mail
- Manchester Evening News
- Sunday Life
- Sunday Post
- The Press and Journal, Aberdeen
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