Presentation of 2005 Awards
Journalist and ex-MP Martin Bell issued a rallying cry for authentic and compassionate journalism at the annual Cordner North East Press Awards, where the Northern Echo took the NE Newspaper of the Year title.
Martin Bell paid tribute to the regional press for upholding the best traditions of journalism that were increasingly at risk, he said, in other sections of the media.
He was guest speaker in Newcastle at a special 25th awards night for the Tom Cordner North East Press Awards - whose main sponsor this year is the campaign for North East England. Award were presented by Margaret Winship, widow of Tom Cordner after whom the event is named, and by relatives of other journalists remembered through individual trophies.
The Darlington-based Northern Echo edged a win for the top title of the night from a two-name shortlist with last year’s holder the Evening Chronicle, Newcastle. Both claimed an impressive list of individual awards on the night, with Echo staff taking
Journalist of the Year & Sports Writing (both Mike Amos), Features (Sarah Foster), Hard News (Olivia Richwald), Scoop (Joe Willis) and Women’s Writing (Lindsay Jennings); and the Chronicle, Splash Subbing (David Morton & Dave Hedley), Initiative and Investigative Reporting (both Adam Jupp) and Photographer of the Year (Iain Buist).
In an unusual twist, the Sports Award section had a song from its sponsor – www.thatsenglandalight.com- with a pre-release airing for a new England World Cup anthem based on the famous theme song of the TV hit Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
The Hexham Courant had its best ever night, taking the NE Weekly Newspaper of the Year title and a clutch of individual awards: Weekly Journalist (Lyndsey Wright), Columnist (Brian Tilley) and Top NCTJ exam marks in the region (Sophie Doughty, formerly of the Teesdale Mercury). The Journal at Newcastle also took home five trophies for Consumer Affairs (Jane Hall), Business (Graeme King), Arts (David Whetstone), Page Design (Peter Leathley) and Magazine (for its Culture monthly).
Agency photographer Richard Rayner from North News & Pictures got the Picture of the Year, an action shot of Newcastle United team-mates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer fighting on the pitch. The Graeme Stanton Award for a lifetime contribution to journalism, presented by the Society of Editors (North), went to Robin Crowther of Darlington College. The former newspaperman who began his career in north east England is a national award-winning trainer of generations of young journalists during 26 years as a lecturer at Darlington College.