Wednesday 2 February 2011

SoE takes control of new Regional Press Awards


The NUJ stepped into the breach last year to run the Regional Press Awards after Press Gazette's one time owner Wilmington decided to drop them.

Today HoldtheFrontPage reports that the new Society of Editors Regional Press Awards are to be held in May. They are being run in association with the Newspaper Society and HoldtheFrontPage.

It was always an embarrassment for regional newspaper bosses to have the NUJ running the Regional Press Awards. HTFP says today: "Newspaper Society members have undertaken to participate in and support the awards and to avoid taking part in any competing UK-wide events."

NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear told me today: "We welcome these awards, they are another opportunity to celebrate quality journalism. We are delighted that our intervention to save the awards last year has prompted others to organise this event".

Bob Satchwell, executive director of the SoE, will oversee the awards process in conjunction with the other stakeholders and editorial consultant Peter Sands will chair the judges.

The SoE has also taken over control of the British Press Awards from Wilmington.

It is understood the NUJ was not consulted about the new regional awards and has made no decision on whether to run its own event this year.
  • Pic: NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear at last year's Regional Press Awards run by the union. (Jon Slattery)

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