The Journal was named the region's newspaper of the year at the
Tom Cordner North East Press Awards and its journalists praised for their
skilful coverage of both urban and rural issues.
While celebrating its 175th birthday, the paper was rewarded by
the judges for being the champion of the region.
Six staff also won individual accolades, including Chloe
Griffiths who won the award for young journalist of the year while Daniel
Cochlin was handed the hard news prize. Sam Wonfor won the arts reporting title
while Jane Hall in consumer affairs and Alastair Gilmour in business were also
winners.
Design was a key factor in the overall prize, reflected in
Babette Decker's page design award.
Writers Graeme Whitfield and Daniel Cochlin received a special
mention in the exclusive of the year award, won by Caroline Smith at The
Journal's sister paper the Sunday Sun. In January, The Journal revealed that
convicted sex offender William Gibson was allowed to work in four schools, a
story which went worldwide.
Editor Brian Aitken was delighted with the awards, which he said
were just reward for a year of hard work and determination from staff.
He said: "I am really proud The Journal has won the top award in
North East journalism and that is a testament to the strong team we have.
"Even more pleasing was the number of individual awards won - a
sign of the strength in depth we have. The quality of journalism is immensely
good and to come out on top is an honour."
The judges praised The Journal's wide range of news, arts and
business reporting, saying: "It looks good and it reads well. It serves an urban
and rural readership with care."
The awards were handed out by BBC presenter Jeremy Vine, who
voiced his admiration for "proper, trained journalists in an age when anybody
with a computer seemed to be able to call themselves a journalist."
The Journal's sister paper, the Evening Chronicle, took the
journalist of the year and investigative journalism prizes, which were both won
by Adam Jupp, while Liz Lamb won the North East women's writer of the year prize
and David Hedley took the award for the best front page award.
Now in its 26th year, the event was set up by colleagues as a
tribute to former Hartlepool Mail news editor Tom Cordner who died in 1976 aged
38. Prizes are handed out in more than 20 categories and honour journalists
working in the north east region, stretching from North Yorkshire to the
Scottish border. The awards were presented at a ceremony at Newcastle Civic
Centre on May 12.
For more details go to www.northeastpressawards.org.uk
