Every year at about this time the world of journalism gets a chance to showcase the very best through the O2 Media awards.
This year myself and my former team at the Lancaster Guardian were lucky enough to be shortlisted for ‘Community Journalism’.
We were up against some very stiff competition and didn’t win, but were super chuffed to be Highly Commended and have our annual reunion with other media from across the NW, this year at Chester Racecourse.
Many blurry selfies and heckling later all the winners were in and although Lancashire Evening Post didn’t win either of the categories in which it was shortlisted, my friend and colleague Aasma Day did scoop Specialist of the year so plenty of an excuse for a toast.
The event was hosted by the lovely Louise Minchin and plenty of well known faces and voices from TV and radio were milling about. It was never going to be a quiet affair..
For your perusal, here is the official press release from last night’s event.. fill yer boots.
O2 Media Awards North West.
ITV Granada Reports took away the lion’s share of the prizes in this year’s O2 Media Awards North West. Correspondent Matt O’Donoghue was named TV Journalist of the Year and overall News Reporter of the Year. Judges praised his exclusive investigation into abuse at a children’s care home and sympathetic reporting of Alan Henning’s brutal murder by ISIS.
Granada anchorwoman Lucy Meacock was crowned the region’s top Broadcast Presenter, while the team also picked up the Scoop of the Year trophy for their exclusive story on Derek Hatton’s bid to rejoin the Labour Party, 30 years after being expelled. Hatton, the former political firebrand turned millionaire businessman, presented the award at the ceremony in Chester.
BBC North West Tonight’s Richard Askam was presented with the award for top Sports Broadcaster by racehorse owner and rugby league boss Marwan Koukash. BBC colleague Clare Fallon was the unluckiest nominee of the night. Despite a hat-trick of individual nominations she narrowly missed out on the top spot, despite being roundly praised by the judging panels.
In the print categories the Liverpool Echo maintained its grip on the Daily Newspaper title. Judges praised the way editor Ali Machray had listened to reader comments and changed the look and feel of the paper for a digital age. The Echo added a brace of other awards winning Best Website and Weekly Newspaper of the Year with the Sunday Echo. The Sentinel, Stoke put in a strong performance, winning awards for their Specialist Publications paying tribute to World War Two veterans. The paper also won the Feature Writer trophy through Jenny Amphlett.
Commercial radio stations dominated the radio categories. Juice FM presenter Chris Chambers was named Radio Journalist of the Year and the station was also named Broadcast Team of the Year. Michelle Livesey of Key 103 won the Community Journalism award for the station’s Street Angels campaign, launched after the death of 17-year-old Adam Pickup in Manchester.
Adam’s parents Chris and Chantal presented the award. More than 25 working editors and executives from newspapers, magazines, broadcasters and on-line publications were involved in the judging process. With more than 360 individual entries the O2 Awards in the North West is the biggest regional press awards of the year. BBC Breakfast presenter Louise
Minchin hosted the evening’s celebrations.Nicola Green, Director of Communications and Reputation at O2 UK, said the judging panel was hugely impressed by journalists working across different media organisations in the North West.
“Congratulations to those who made the final line up, but also a huge thank you to everyone who entered this year’s competition. The evening was a celebration of some superb journalism and a reminder of how important the regional media is to local communities.”
Full results:
O2 Media Awards North West 2015 finalists
Broadcast Presenter of the Year
Lucy Meacock – ITV News Granada Reports
Highly Commended
Mick Coyle – Radio City
Vicky Warham – Wire FM
Peggy Walker – BBC Radio Cumbria
Community Journalism Award
Michelle Livesey – Key 103
Highly Commended
Neal Keeling – Manchester Evening News
The Sentinel, Stoke – Our Big Read
Sarah Rogers – ITV News Granada Reports
Nicola Adam – Lancaster Guardian
Daily Newspaper of the Year
Liverpool Echo
Highly Commended
The Sentinel, Stoke
News & Star
Lancashire Evening Post
Team of the Year (Broadcast)
Juice FM
Highly Commended
ITV News Granada Reports
Radio City
BBC North West Tonight
Team of the Year (Print)
Warrington Guardian
Highly Commended
Lancashire Evening Post
Mid Cheshire Guardian
Carlisle Living
Feature Writer of the Year
Jenny Amphlett – The Sentinel, Stoke
Highly Commended
Tom Belger – Liverpool Echo
Roger Lytollis – Cumberland News
David Prior – Altrincham Today
Free Distribution Newspaper
St Helens Star
Highly Commended
Champion Newspapers
Wirral Globe
On-Line Media Award
Lancashire Telegraph
Highly Commended
Chester Chronicle
ITV Granada
North West Business Insider
Juice FM
News Reporter of the Year
Matt O’Donoghue – ITV News Granada Reports
Highly Commended
John Siddle – Liverpool Echo
Clare Fallon – BBC Look North West
Samantha Yarwood – Daily Post
Images of the Year
Stuart Walker – Cumbrian Newspapers
Highly Commended
Emma Boyd – Westmorland Gazette
Ian Cooper – Liverpool Echo
Ian Robinson – Lancashire Evening Post
Radio Journalist of the Year
Chris Chambers – Juice FM
Highly Commended
Michelle Livesey – Key 103
Sarah Poole – Global Radio
Vicky Glover – 2BR & The Bee
Scoop of the Year
Party People – ITV News Granada Reports
Highly Commended
Clare Fallon – BBC North West Tonight
Claire Smyth – The Sentinel, Stoke
Adam Phillips – Rock FM
Specialist Publication of the Year
The Sentinel – Echoes of WW2/Salute to the Few
Highly Commended
Cumbria Life – CN Magazines
The Sentinel, Stoke – Sir Stanley Matthews
Cumbrian Newspapers – Proud to be Cumbrian / 200 Anniversary
Best Website
Liverpool Echo
Highly Commended
Wirral Globe
Westmorland Gazette
Warrington Guardian
Specialist Writer of the Year
Aasma Day – Lancashire Evening Post
Highly Commended
Dave Blackhurst – The Sentinel, Stoke
John Siddle – Liverpool Echo
Michaela Robinson-Tate – Cumbria Life
Victoria Glover – 2 BR & The Bee
Sports Reporter of the Year – Broadcast
Richard Askam – BBC North West Tonight
Highly Commended
Mike Hall – ITV News Granada Reports
Ian Haslam – BBC North West Tonight
Chris Hall – ITV News Granada Reports
Sports Reporter of the Year – Print
Suzanne Geldard – Lancashire Telegraph
Highly Commended
James Pearce – Liverpool Echo
Will Watt – Blackpool Gazette
Jon Colman – Cumberland News/News &Star
