Entries Open for Awards Honouring Ireland’s Leading Local Journalists
Local Ireland, the organisation which represents print and online news publishers around the country, has launched its annual awards to celebrate regional journalism.
The 2022 Local Ireland Media Awards, which are in their seventh year, will honour the achievements of journalists, photographers and advertising staff.
This year’s competition will be the fifth to be sponsored by the National Lottery, which has its own award for Best Community Story.
President of Local Ireland, Declan McGuire said: “It’s my great pleasure to launch this year’s awards.
“The role that local news publishers play is essential in our communities and our trusted, professional, quality content has never been more highly valued.
“No other media can compare with our hyperlocal coverage of news, sport, entertainment and culture.
“Thanks to digital, we have never had so many readers. Last year we expanded our digital awards categories. This year I am pleased to announce we will introduce a new category for Columnist of the Year which will be judged by the eminent author and broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald.”
CEO of the National Lottery Andrew Algeo said: “We are delighted to be yet again associated with the prestigious Local Ireland Media Awards, which are a reflection of the very best of journalism in Ireland and highlight the impact that local media has with the communities that they serve.
“Just like local media, the National Lottery is embedded in every town and village in Ireland, through our players, our retailers and of course, our Good Causes beneficiaries and the community groups which they support. We are especially proud of our long-term association with the Local Ireland Awards and we look forward to seeing the award entries from some incredible journalists from all around the country.”
Executive Director of Local Ireland Bob Hughes said the awards ceremony would be held on October 13th at the Bloomfield House Hotel in Mullingar.
He added: “I’m delighted that Marty Morrissey has again agreed to be our host for the evening. He presented our Virtual Awards last year but this year we are looking forward to our nominees being honoured in person by their peers.”
Chair of the judging panel will be Áine Kerr, Chief Operating Officer of Kinzen, former Manager of Global Journalism Partnerships with Facebook and former Managing Editor of Storyful.
She will be joined by Dearbhail McDonald, Emeritus Professor at TUD Michael Foley, Dawn Wheatley of DCU School of Communications, Managing Director of Kinetic Ireland Andrew Sinclair, photographer and former Irish Times Picture Editor Frank Miller, broadcaster and writer Valerie Cox, and journalist and author PJ Cunningham.
LOCAL IRELAND MEDIA AWARDS CATEGORIES
Best News Story
This can be a single story on a single topic. The winner will be the journalist who produces a major news story with a strong local focus which is well written and structured and makes a significant impact for the local community. Attracting national coverage would also be advantageous. There should be a maximum of three samples of work to be submitted.
Best News Series
This can be a series of stories related to the same topic.
The winner will be the journalist who produces a news series with a local focus which is well written and structured and generates a high level of response from the local community. Attracting national coverage/attention would also be advantageous.
Maximum of three samples of work to be submitted together with a summary of the impact of each entry.
Feature Journalist of the Year
This can be a single story or a series of articles on a single topic.
It can include human interest, lifestyle, local personality profiles, social interest stories or other topics outside of the news and sports categories.
The winner will be the journalist who produces a story with a local focus which is relevant, well written and structured and brings good insight to the topic.
Maximum of three samples of work to be submitted together with a summary of the impact of each entry.
Sports Journalist of the Year
This can be a single story or a series of articles on a single topic.
It can include match reports, sports profiles, and series of articles on a season/campaign or any other topic of sporting interest.
The winner will be the journalist who produces a story with a local focus which is relevant, well written and structured and brings good insight to the topic.
A maximum of 3 samples of work to be submitted together with a summary of the impact of each entry.
Columnist of the Year
This can be a single article or series of articles. The winner will be an accomplished journalist and writer whose insights stimulate public interest and debate in their subject matter. A maximum of 3 samples of work to be submitted together with a summary of the impact of each entry.
National Lottery Best Community Story
This will be awarded to the news story or feature that best captures community spirit and the impact of local people working together to make a difference.
Maximum of 3 samples of work to be submitted together with a summary of the impact of each entry.
Best Supplement
The winner will be the newspaper that produces an editorial/advertorial supplement of outstanding quality combining excellent editorial and advertising content, good design and quality reproduction. Supplements can be either part of the main newspaper edition or stand-alone offerings. Entries should be confined to one entry per publication.
Nine copies of the entries should be sent by post to: Bob Hughes, Ashfield, Brownstown, Kilcloon, Co Meath A85 CK79. The entries will then be distributed to the judging panel.
Best Photograph
This award will be presented to the photographer who will present a remarkable picture with excellent composition which is well-placed in a local newspaper.
Maximum of six samples of work to be submitted in jpeg format.
Best Use of Photography
The winner will be the publication which best demonstrates how it uses photography to illustrate news or sport stories or features, or uses photography on its own to tell compelling stories.
Maximum of six samples of work to be submitted in pdf format.
Best Front Page
This category will recognise the impact of an appealing front page. Essential to this will be a strong page layout, excellent headlines coupled with eye-catching photography, good captions and relevant graphics. A maximum of three samples of work per title to be submitted
Best Local Advertisement
This will be a single stand-out advertisement for a local client which displays excellent copywriting, design and reproduction in print or digital.
Maximum of 3 samples of work to be submitted.
Best Advertising Campaign
The winner will be an advertising campaign for a single, local or national client which makes best use of local print media to deliver its messages. It may include clearly identified advertorial.
Maximum of 3 samples of work to be submitted.
Best Innovation
This can be any business initiative print or online that demonstrates a creative and inventive approach to enhance the news publishers’ offering to its readers and audiences, or has grown the business in an innovative way. This should be a single entry of the most impactful initiative taken during the qualifying period.
Best Use of Digital
The award will go to the local newspaper which demonstrates how its digital offerings enhance its print editions by expanding its total audience, increasing engagement and growing revenue.
No more than five entries per title with links to not more than five online platforms
It can include a newspaper’s website, digital editions, apps or any combinations or parts thereof.
Best Use of Social Media
This award is for the most innovative way of promoting print and online content or effectively communicating excellence in journalism via social media. This could involve a variety of techniques including stills, graphics, videos, imaginative headlines and clever scripting. Maximum of six samples of work to be submitted.
Lifetime Achievement Award
This award is not open for entries and will be selected by a panel from the Executive Committee of Local Ireland.
