Monday Entry Deadline For Regional Press Awards
Journalists have until Monday to enter the Regional Press Awards which includes the News Media Association’s Cathryn Nicoll Award for young journalists.
Entries for the awards, which highlight brilliant journalism in the local media sector, can be made through the Society of Editors website.
Launched for the first time last year, the Cathryn Nicoll Award rewards brilliant interviewing and feature writing by young journalists, with a cash prize of £500 for the winner.
Molly Williams of the Sheffield Star, and winner of the award last year said: “It was an amazing surprise to win the award, a really proud moment that I will cherish throughout my journalism career.
“It’s important to take a step back every now and then to recognise the hard work done in regional newsrooms every day. This event is a fabulous way to celebrate that and makes for a very inspiring day that also brings journalists together from across the country.
“As a young reporter who is in the early stages of her career it was a huge confidence boost to be a part of the awards and then to be the first winner of the Cathryn Nicoll Award was incredible.
“To anyone on the fence about entering, I’d say go for it. My editor encouraged me to take a chance and it was one of the best things I’ve done.”
The award pays tribute to journalist, Cathryn Nicoll who held the position of news editor at the Croydon Advertiser where she was in charge of 21 reporters.
Her colleagues have said that she was a good and fair interviewer who believed passionately in journalistic standards and training and would devote her time to young journalists in the newsroom who showed promise.
Cathryn, who was married to former Bletchley Park codebreaker and GCHQ deputy director Douglas Nicoll, died in 2016 and made provision in her will for an annual award for young journalists to be set up by the NMA.
Entries for Campaign of the Year are automatically put forward for the NMA’s Making a Difference award for Journalism Matters.