West Highland Free Press Wins Newspaper of the Year Award
The West Highland Free Press has been chosen as the Newspaper of the Year by the Highland and Islands Media Awards' judging panel. Editor Ian McCormack, will receive a cheque for £500, to be donated to a charity of the newspaper's choice, at the Highland and Islands Press Ball being held at the Newton Hotel, Nairn on Friday 1 February. The newspaper caught the eye of the judges with its all round coverage of news, features, comment and sports.
The West Highland Free Press was also judged to have demonstrated the best use of journalism on the web and their editorial staff featured prominently in the individual list of prize winners.
Alasdair Campbell is the first winner of the Bord na Gaidhlig Award for best Gaelic entry. Willie Urquhart is Photographer of the Year; Keith Mackenzie is the winner of the Jim Love Memorial Trophy for being Reporter of the Year and Murray MacLeod is Feature Writer of the Year. Keith was also highly commended in the Feature Writer of the Year category.
Community Newspaper of the Year is the Chatterbox, which is produced in Avoch for the communities of Avoch, Fortrose, Killen, Munlochy and Rosemarkie. The paper will receive a cheque for £300, £100 of which will go to local charity.
Winner of the Young Journalist of the Year Award and the Alex Main Trophy is Euan Paterson of the Oban Times.
Chris Saunderson of The Northern Scot, Elgin, is Local Reporter of the Year; Local Photographer of the Year is Ken Amer, Orkney Today; and Sports Writer of the Year is Alasdair Fraser, freelance, Inverness.
The awards attract prize money of £2,200. The main sponsors are Diageo, the world's premier drinks company. The UHI Millennium Institute sponsors the prize for the Community Newspaper of the Year Award and Bord na Gaidhlig, the Gaelic award.
Highlands And Islands Media Awards
Prizes to be made by Rt Hon Alex Salmond, MP, MSP, First Minister, Scottish Government at the Highland and Islands Press Ball on Friday 1 February 2008 at the Newton Hotel, Nairn.
Bord Na Gaidhlig Award for best Gaelic entry:
Winner: Alasdair Campbell, West Highland Free Press
Highly Commended: Joy Dunlop, Connel, Argyll
Best Use of Journalism on the Web:
Winner: West Highland Free Press
Highly Commended: Steve Mackenzie, BBC
Local Newspaper Photographer of the Year:
Winner: Ken Amer, Orkney Today
Highly Commended: Keith Morrison, Shetland Times
Photographer of the Year:
Winner: Willie Urquhart, West Highland Free Press
Highly Commended: Alasdair Allen, Scottish Provincial Press
Young Journalist of the Year and the Alex Main Trophy
Winner: Euan Paterson, Oban Times
Highly Commended: Andy Dixon, Inverness Courier
Sportswriter of the Year:
Winner: Alasdair Fraser, Freelance
Highly Commended: Eric Mackinnon, Stornoway Gazette
Local Reporter of the Year:
Winner: Chris Saunderson, Northern Scot
Highly Commended: Calum Ross, Inverness Courier
Reporter of the Year and the Jim Love Memorial Trophy:
Winner: Keith Mackenzie, West Highland Free Press
Highly Commended: Claire Doughty, Highland News
Feature Writer of the Year:
Winner: Murray MacLeod, West Highland Free Press
Highly Commended: Keith Mackenzie, West Highland Free Press
UHI Millennium Institute Community Newspaper of the Year: Chatterbox, produced in Avoch for Rosemarkie, Fortrose, Avoch, Killen and Munlochy
Newspaper of the Year:
West Highland Free Press, Broadford, Skye
Journalist of the Year:
To be announced at the Press Ball on Friday 1 February 2008.