Express & Star recognised at top newspaper awards

The newspaper was highly commended in the top award for daily/Sunday with a circulation of more than 20,000 with the top prize going to The Courier, Dundee.

Special projects editor Rob Golledge was also highly commended in the young journalist of the year category at the awards held in London's Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel.

Express & Star deputy editor Diane Davies said: "We are delighted that the work of the Express & Star and one of our rising young stars has been recognised at national level.

"We have a very talented editorial team and I'm proud of the service we provide both in print and online. We are a vital part of the community delivering news as it happens."

A special chairman's award went to the Liverpool Echo for its 27-year Fight for the Truth in its Hillsborough campaigning.

The Liverpool Echo campaign reached a milestone last month with the second inquest verdicts. The award was presented to editor Alastair Machray and reporter Eleanor Barlow by chairman of the judges Paul Horrocks and Trevor Hicks, President of the Hillsborough Family Support Group and former managing director of Perma Systems in Kingswinford.

Mr Horrocks said the award was in recognition of a paper that never wavered and never tired. "It casts aside the idea that regional newspapers do not invest in their communities," he said.

The awards celebrate the vital role of local and regional newspapers.

Chairman of the judges Paul Horrocks said: "Once again the regional and local industry has illustrated the vital service it provides to communities up and down the country. From huge public interest campaigns to hard hitting news, commentary and entertainment, the industry continues to silence its critics and shows why it is the best in the world."