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The News in Portsmouth stormed to victory at the NUJ Regional Press Awards today, winning a total of four categories including Newspaper of the Year.

The event, which was taken over by the NUJ this year, recognised the work of regional journalists, photographers, designers and publishers across 20 categories.

Opening speaker and NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said the union wanted to pay tribute to the work of journalists facing many challenges in the current industry.

"Whilst it is right we celebrate the very best of media there are many who have little to say good about our profession," he said. "Those we celebrate as a profession are the people who stand up to defend the basic principles and ethics of our profession on all our behalf, so we might be better informed. But whilst we want the public to value our work we want our work to be properly valued by our profession too."

He said too many local media companies are failing democracy, referring to those who had become "victims of failed corporate models for news".

"Local and national democracy is suffering, as a result," he added.

He closed the awards by saying the NUJ will consider running the event next year if no one else does.

Rachel McAthy talks to Jeremy Dear:

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Awards ceremony

Reporter of the Year Weekly was a unanimous verdict, given to Eleanor Harding of the Wandsworth Guardian, who was congratulated on getting out of the office and speaking to local people in the search for stories.

Rachel McAthy talks to Eleanor Harding:

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Reporter of the Year Daily/Sunday went to Allison Morris from the Irish News.

Student Journalist of the Year, a new category introduced by the NUJ this year, was awarded to Rosie Taylor from Forge Press. Taylor was recognised for her article exposing the variation of marking in French exam papers.

Rachel McAthy talks to Rosie Taylor

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Presenting the award for Multimedia Journalist of the Year, Steve Busfield from the Guardian said the multimedia category was tough to judge.

"The standard was higher than ever and turned this into an incredibly competitive category."

The winner of was Sion Donovan, from the News in Portsmouth. Multimedia Publisher of the Year went to Stewart Kirkpatrick of the Caledonian Mercury.

Sports photographer of the Year Daily/Sunday was a highly competitive category, with two shortlisted candidates being highly commended, but the overall winner was Lucy Ray from the Bradford and Telegraph Argus.

The award for photographer of the year went to Stuart Boulton, for his image of a prisoner serving time for a crime he claims not to have committed.

Sports writer for the News in Portsmouth, Neil Allen, was named Sports Journalist of the Year Daily/Sunday.

He was said to write with "flair and authority" and was praised for not being afraid to write negatively about his local club when necessary, being subsequently barred from the grounds.

Another award introduced by the NUJ this year was the Felix Dearden Reporting on Race Award. This award remembers Felix Dearden, a Reuters journalist who died in the Kings Cross fire in 1987. The award went to Mary Griffin from the Coventry Telegraph.

Rachel McAthy talks to Mary Griffin:

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Scoop of the Year was awarded to Cherry Wilson, from the Rotherham Advertiser, for her story of a blind builder who got his sight back.

Other categories recognised outstanding work by feature writers, designers, columnists and specialist writers. Judges congratulated all the short listed candidates.

Full list of winners

Campaign of the Year

Winner: Kathryn Torney, Belfast Telegraph

Student Journalist of the Year

Winner: Rosie Taylor, Forge Press

Designer of the Year

Winner: Graeme Windell, The News, Portsmouth

Rachel McAthy talks to Graeme Windell:

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Feature Writer of the Year Weekly

Winner: Roger Lytollis, Cumberland News

Feature Writer of the Year Daily/Sunday

Winner: Jayne Dawson of Yorkshire Evening Post

Multimedia Journalist of the Year

Winner: Sion Donovan, The News, Portsmouth

Multimedia Publisher of the Year

Winner: Stewart Kirkpatrick – Caledonian Mercury

Sports Photographer of the Year Weekly

Winner: Stephen Garnett, Craven Herald

Sports Photographer of the Year Daily/Sunday

Winner: Lucy Ray, Bradford and Telegraph Argus

Photographer of the Year Weekly

Winner: Chris Whiteoak, Surrey Advertiser

Photographer of the Year Daily/Sunday

Winner: Stuart Boulton, Northern Echo

Sports Journalist of the Year Weekly

Winner: Eric Mackinnon, West Lothian Courier

Sports Journalist of the Year Daily/Sunday

Winner: Neil Allen, The News, Portsmouth

Columnist of the Year

Winner: Stacia  Briggs, Norwich Evening News

Specialist Writer of the Year

Winner: Carl Eve, The Plymouth Herald

The Felix Dearden Reporting on Race Award

Winner: Mary Griffin, Coventry Telegraph

Scoop of the Year

Winner: Cherry Wilson, Rotherham Advertiser & Croydon Advertiser

Reporter of the Year Weekly

Winner: Eleanor Harding, Wandsworth Guardian

Reporter of the Year Daily/Sunday

Winner: Allison Morris, Irish News

Newspaper of the Year

The News, Portsmouth

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Written by
Rachel Bartlett

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