Winners of Local Ireland Media Awards announced
The winners of the Local Ireland Media Awards 2021 have been announced.
Host Marty Morrissey revealed the winners in 14 competitive categories plus a Lifetime Achievement award for Pat Ryan of the Nenagh Guardian in a virtual awards ceremony held on Wednesday December 1.
The Westmeath Independent was one of four finalists in two categories, Best Supplement and Best Use of Social Media. The Westmeath Independent was shortlisted in the category Best Supplement for its commemorative publication marking the 100th anniversary of the burning of the paper and its print works by British Crown Forces.
Also shortlisted in this category were Western People (winner), Waterford News and Star and Mayo News.
The paper was also shortlisted in the Best Use of Social Media category for an initiative during the initial lockdown when editor Tadhg Carey fronted a television news-style programme live on Facebook using innovative broadcasting technology.
The initiative, 'Midlands TV News', faced competition from Drogheda Independent, Western People (winner) and Connacht Tribune in this category.
In total more than 500 entries were received in 14 editorial and commercial categories across print and digital publications.
Local Ireland is the umbrella group for some 42 regional news titles.
The Westmeath Independent is part of Celtic Media Group and other sister titles, Meath Chronicle, Anglo Celt and Connaught Telegraph, also received nominations.
The Meath Chronicle won the overall award for Best Advertising Campaign.
President of Local Ireland Declan McGuire said: “I am delighted that we were able to celebrate journalism excellence in our regional publishers in this way.
“It is important that our achievements are recognised. I want to congratulate all the winners and nominees and pay tribute to all the journalists and staff who deliver our regional news titles week in, week out to such a high professional standard.
“I also want to thank our sponsors, the National Lottery, for their continued support of community-focused journalism, and our judges for the care they have taken in reaching their final decisions.”
CEO of the Lottery Andrew Algeo said: “In these challenging times, we need great journalism to uncover, to explain, to challenge and to give perspective to what we are all experiencing.
“These annual awards are important and we at the National Lottery are delighted to be both associated with them and to confirm our commitment to local journalism through the sponsorship of the Local Ireland Media Awards for a further three years.”
Chair of the Judges Áine Kerr of kinzen.com said: “At its very best, quality local journalism can engage, entertain and educate. Critically, it should - and can - leave us feeling more informed about the world around us, empowering us to make decisions and judgements about that everyday world.
“Quality local journalism has the power to make us feel more connected, to give us a sense of belonging to something, whether it’s a club, movement, community group or event.
“After two years of often having to stay apart in order to stay together, it is my hope and belief that we were still able to relate to and learn from our local communities through the power of local journalism, through our shared local stories. I want to congratulate everyone who was nominated.
Executive Director Bob Hughes said: “After taking the difficult but necessary to decision to cancel our awards evening because of COVID, we were determined to go ahead with a virtual celebration of all that’s great in local journalism.
“I was also very pleased that we were able to deliver the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Pat Ryan, former Managing Director of the Nenagh Guardian, to a wider audience.
“Pat has made an immense contribution to local journalism both at a local and national level through his stewardship of the Nenagh Guardian and his active involvement in the work of Local Ireland.”
The winners were:
BEST FRONT PAGE
The Kerryman “Unprecedented”
BEST LOCAL ADVERT
Connacht Tribune “Athenry Credit Union”
BEST SUPPLEMENT
Western People “Through the Ages”
BEST USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Sligo Chamption “ Public to the Rescue”
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Western People “The Night U2 Rocked Ballina”
BEST ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
Meath Chronicle “Ashbourne High Street”
BEST NEWS SERIES
Wexford People “Home in our Hearts”
FEATURE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Claire Quinn, Waterford News and Star
SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Colin Sheridan, Mayo News
BEST PHOTOGRAPH
John Kelly, Clare Champion
BEST USE OF DIGITAL
Limerick Leader “Coaching Insights”
BEST INNOVATION
Mediahaus Ireland Regional e-Papers
NATIONAL LOTTERY BEST COMMUNITY STORY
Dan Danaher, Clare Champion
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Patrick Ryan, Nenagh Guardian
BEST NEWS STORY
Sinead Kelleher, The Kerryman