This award is open to any journalist working for a weekly or daily local or regional newspaper published in the UK, who is aged between 18 and 25 as of the 31 December 2024. Entrants must submit a published feature or news story based on an interview that they have carried out with a well- known person or celebrity during the eligible period for these awards. The judges will be looking for what they consider to be the best entry on the basis of quality, flair and originality of the prose and contribution to public debate or entertainment.

Set up and judged by the News Media Association, this Award has been launched in memory of Cathryn Nicoll, who held the position of News Editor at the Croydon Advertiser during her career as a journalist. Cathryn was known for her passionate belief in journalistic standards and training, and the award will highlight and reward brilliant interviewing and feature writing by young journalists, with a cash prize of £500 for the winner.

This award recognises an individual whose articles shed a light on important issues of wrongdoing and criminality, or unpick complex and important events no matter what the topic. The winner will demonstrate tenacity in their news gathering and an ability to present investigative work in a digestible and readable way, as well as being able to show that their work has made a real difference where appropriate.

This category is open to designers on any print title. Judges will be looking for an ability to create visually pleasing and innovative pages that also clearly aid readers in engaging with content, as well as an ability to create a distinctive look in keeping with the brand’s broader values.

This award covers all forms of long-form journalism, from colour writing to news analysis, background pieces or profiles. Judges will look for an ability to impart original insight and key information as well as the ability to entertain and impress through quality writing.

For writers of columns, blogs, leaders and other forms of opinion across all topics, styles and channels. The winner will be a writer who is a must-read, with a distinctive style and the ability to provoke debate and change perceptions among readers.

This category is open to news, sports or features photographers. Judges will be looking for versatility in style and subject matter, technical skills and the ability to capture images that stand out from the pack.

This award recognises excellence in reporting. The winner will demonstrate a track record of breaking exclusives, expertly researched stories and quality writing. Tenacity, flair and investigative skill will all score highly.

This award recognises excellence in reporting. The winner will demonstrate a track record of breaking exclusives, expertly researched stories and quality writing. Tenacity, flair and investigative skill will all score highly.

Open to journalists who specialise in a particular topic, from science, technology or business to music, travel or motoring. Judges will be looking for a mastery of the topic, originality and flair in writing and a track record of tackling important topics.

For news writers, match reporters, feature writers, interviewers and columnists. Entries may be from a variety of sports or a single sport. Judges will look for consistently high quality writing, agenda-setting reporting and originality in presentation.

Open to journalists aged 26 or under on 31 December 2024. Entries can include work from any journalistic discipline. The award is supported by the Cecil King Memorial Foundation and the winner will receive a £2,500 bursary to be used for travel to research an agreed article or series of articles for their title.

This award is open to business and individuals who are suppliers to the national/regional press and can demonstrate the value they have added to a media brand, whether via a technological solution, provision of editorial or multimedia services (such as podcasts or video), marketing, commercial support or strategic advice.

This category recognises the importance of breaking news stories to news brands, and the considerable skill and innovation to bringing these stories to audiences. Entrants may cite either a single breaking story or event across any specialism, including sport, or may consider their coverage of breaking news across the entire year, in all relevant channels. Judges will be looking for responsiveness, accuracy and depth in coverage, as well as innovation in the way it is presented to audiences.

This award is open to all titles, and can be entered by individuals or teams. It celebrates campaigns that capture attention and achieve tangible results. Judges will be looking for the importance of the cause, the originality of the approach and the end result.

The winner of this category will be a news brand that is consistently innovative across digital channels and, crucially, can show evidence of how these channels are connecting with audiences. Brands may enter either individual projects – for example, a newsletter, podcast or series of digital content – or consider their digital output in its entirety. Judges will be looking for originality and a clear understanding of how the work submitted brings the brand closer to its audience, ideally alongside measurable results.

An award celebrating the most memorable and impactful front page published in print during the eligibility period. Judges will look for originality, clarity and most of all immediate impact.

This award is open to both digital-only publications and to websites produced by newspapers. Judges will be looking for evidence of how the website supports the overall brand proposition, how it is used as an editorial channel and how it complements and enhances other channels such as social media or newsletters – as well as user experience, presentation, use of multimedia and depth and originality of digital coverage. If appropriate, please include analytics concerning website performance, and indicate in your citation the factors you believe have driven this performance.

This special award recognises the remarkable work of regional newspapers to ensure all communities are well represented in coverage. Entries can come from individual journalists of teams, and should demonstrate how they have ensured the diverse communities in their publication’s region are well served and that their journalists reach out to provide reporting that is inclusive and all-encompassing, regardless of ethnicity, ability, faith or sexuality.

This category is open to stories, or multiple stories, on a topic that draws the envy of the rest of the journalistic profession. It can be entered by individuals or teams, with judges looking for exclusivity and impact above all else.

This award is open to any publication published as part of a newspaper, at any regularity and in any format. Judges will look at quality of content, use of design and photography and readability, as well as suitability of content for the target audience, brand and alignment with the broader parent publication.

Open to newspapers or to digital-only operations. This award recognises the brand that has made the most impact and provided the most high-quality, original and innovative coverage of events during the eligible period. Judges will be looking for consistent quality across all areas of editorial coverage, and evidence of journalistic impact.

Open to brands with below 50,000 total monthly reach for UK publications (not including Northern Ireland)/ below 10,000 circulation for Northern Ireland titles.

Open to newspapers or to digital-only operations. This award recognises the brand that has made the most impact and provided the most high-quality, original and innovative coverage of events during the eligible period. Judges will be looking for consistent quality across all areas of editorial coverage, and evidence of journalistic impact.

Open to brands with above 50,000 total monthly reach for UK publications (not including Northern Ireland)/ above 10,000 circulation for Northern Ireland titles.