O2 announces ‘exceptional’ media awards shortlist
Echo in pole as North West rivals line up for journalism ‘Oscars’
Regional rivalry resumes at this year’s O2 North West Media Awards. The Liverpool Echo has the lion’s share of the nominations but will face stiff competition from the Manchester Evening News, Bolton News, Lancashire Evening Post and Blackpool Gazette.
Echo journalists feature in five individual award categories covering News, Sport, Photography, Specialist Writing and Young Journalist of the Year as well as two team awards, including Daily Newspaper of the Year. Sister title The Liverpool Post has two individual nominations and is also shortlisted as Weekly Newspaper of the Year alongside the Cumberland News and Westmorland Gazette.
ITV Granada Reports’ journalists feature prominently with nominations for Rachel Townsend, Adam McClean, Dan Hewitt and Sarah Rogers. Dave Guest and Jayne McCubbin fly the flag for BBC North West Tonight.
In the battle of the airwaves, reporters from commercial radio stations have the stranglehold with nominations for Radio City and City Talk, Heart FM and The Bee.
Winners will be revealed at the awards presentation evening on November 6 at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral.
This year’s awards attracted more than 300 entries from journalists and production teams on regional newspapers, on-line publications, radio and television stations.
Judges were so impressed by the quality of some of the entries they insisted on introducing two new categories – specifically recognising journalists working on weekly newspapers and a special journalism award that will be revealed on the night.
Nicola Green, Head of Communications and Reputation at O2, said the number of entries this year had been amazing.
“The sheer volume of award entries meant that judging sessions took place over a number of days. The panels had the impossible task of selecting a handful of nominees from a huge range of portfolios. This year’s standard was exceptional both in quality and diversity. Every journalist who entered deserves huge credit for making the O2 awards so competitive. Those nominated this year really should feel truly proud of making such a phenomenal shortlist.”
Two of O2’s main Customer Service Centres are in Bury in Greater Manchester and Runcorn in Cheshire. The company launched the regional media awards in Cheshire six years ago. Since then the competition has grown and now covers Yorkshire and the whole of the North West.
Successful nominees should contact Rossiter Media on 01829 741371 or Liz@rossitermedia.co.uk / o2mediaawards@rossitermedia.co.uk for more details about the awards evening and to arrange for their tickets.
2013 NOMINEES
New Media Journalist of the Year
Andy Downton – Heart FM
Mark Thomas – The Post, Liverpool
John Scheerhout – Manchester Evening News
Young Journalist of the Year
Richard Wheatstone – Manchester Evening News
Adam McLean – ITV Granada
Joe Thomas – Liverpool Echo
Rachel Flint – Chester Chronicle
Daniel Hewitt – ITV Granada
Feature Writer of the Year
Vickie Scullard – Bolton News
Roger Lytollis – News & Star/ Cumberland News
Steve Canavan – The Gazette, Blackpool
News Reporter of the Year
Aasma Day – Lancashire Evening Post
Sarah Collins – 2BR/The Bee
Jennifer Williams – Manchester Evening News
John Siddle – Liverpool Echo
Weekly Newspaper of the Year (Free)
Saddleworth Independent
Wirral Globe
Leigh Journal
Champion Newspapers
Weekly Journalist of the Year
Carmella De Lucia – Chester Chronicle
Ellis Butcher – Westmorland Gazette
Rachel Flint – Chester Chronicle
Ellie Cullen – Crewe Chronicle
Oliver Clay – Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News
Photographer of the Year
Robert Binder – Lancashire Telegraph
Darren Robinson – Oldham Evening Chronicle
Jason Roberts – Liverpool Echo & Post
Gareth Jones – Liverpool Echo & Post
Phil Rigby – CN Magazines
Emerging Talent Award
Anthony Sabanskis – University of Bolton
Ian O’Brien – Blackburn University College
Joshua Worrall – Cronton Sixth Form College
Emily Burgin – University of Salford
Radio Journalist of the Year
Mair Thomas – Heart North West
Mick Coyle – City Talk 105.9
Steve Becker – BBC Radio Lancashire
Scoop of the Year
Rachel Townsend – Granada Reports (George Osborne ‘Ticketgate’)
Radio City & City Talk – (Don’t Bet On It)
Jennifer Williams – Manchester Evening News (The Cavemen of 2013)
Specialist Publication of the Year
Lancashire Life
All Together Now
Business Insider
Warrington Guardian Weekend Magazine
Specialist Writer of the Year
Jayne McCubbin – BBC North West Tonight
Alistair Houghton – Liverpool Post & Echo
Ben Turner – Liverpool Echo
Sports Journalist of the Year
William Watt – The Gazette, Blackpool
Suzanne Geldard – Lancashire Telegraph
Greg O’Keeffe – Liverpool Echo
David Chisnall – ITV Granada
Editorial Team of the Year
Lancashire Evening Post (Preston Guild)
Liverpool Echo (Hillsborough)
The Farm (BBC Sport)
TV Broadcast Journalist of the Year
Sarah Rogers – ITV Granada
Dan Hewitt – ITV Granada
Dave Guest – BBC North West
Adam McLean – ITV Granada
Weekly Newspaper of the Year (Paid For)
The Post, Liverpool
Westmorland Gazette
Cumberland News
Daily Newspaper of the Year
Daily Post Wales
Bolton News
Liverpool Echo
For more information, contact
| Ann McCrackenO2 Communications Manager, NorthAnn.mccracken@o2.com+44 (0)7850 708009 | Mark RossiterRossiter Mediamark@rossitermedia.co.uk+44 (0)1829 741371 |
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