A NEW journalism awards initiative has been launched by National Newspapers of Ireland to honour and reward Irish writers and commentators.
The initiative covers categories including awards for national, regional, feature, business and economics, sports and political journalists, as well as columnist/commentator of the year. Other award categories include scoop of the year, showbiz story of the year and best design and presentation.
There will also be a young journalist category as well as a newspapers in education initiative/ supplement award. A special award for contributions to the newspaper industry is also planned.
Chairman Paul Cooke said that the initiative was long overdue.
“We want to honour and reward the writers and commentators that inform, entertain and sometimes provoke our readers. Ireland has long enjoyed a reputation of great writing excellence and that craft is evident every day in NNI daily and weekly newspapers.”
The awards cover articles published in the group’s 16 national daily, Sunday and weekly newspapers and 34 local and regional newspapers between September 1st, 2010, and August 31st, 2011. Entry details from nni.ie/journalismawards and the winners will be announced on October 27th.
Meanwhile the Law Society of Ireland yesterday announced the winners of its annual Justice Media Awards 2011.
Conall Ó Fátharta of the Irish Examinerwon the daily newspapers award for his article "Adoption in Ireland", while Sheila Flynn of the Irish Mail on Sundaywas the winner in the Sunday newspapers category for "House of Horrors: The Terrible Truth".