Congratulations to those shortlisted in the annual Highlands and Islands Media Awards.

The complete list of finalists is as follows:

Gaelic Reporter of the Year (sponsored by Bòrd na Gàidhlig)
Allan MacLeod, BBC
Doneil MacLeod, BBC
Shona MacDonald. BBC Naidheachdan

Photographer of the Year
Paul Campbell, freelance
Jason Hedges, Press & Journal
Willie Urquhart, West Highland Free Press

Business Reporter of the Year (sponsored by Inverness Chamber of Commerce)
Sarah Gilmour, The Orcadian
Alberto Lejarraga, Press & Journal
Daniel Shailer, The Shetland Times

Environment and Sustainability Reporter of the Year (sponsored by Highland CIC – incorporating Highland Tourism & Highland Renewables)
Chris Cope, Shetland News
Iona MJ MacDonald, Highland News and Media
John White, West Highland Free Press

Podcast of the Year – new category (sponsored by PSG)
Highland News and Media
This Is Islay

Sport Reporter of the Year & Bill McAllister Memorial Trophy
Adam Harcus, BBC Radio Orkney
Andrew Henderson, Highland News and Media
Eric Mackinnon, Stornoway Gazette
Chris MacLennan, BBC Scotland

Young Reporter of the Year & Alex Main Memorial Trophy
Finlay MacLennan, BBC
Ena Saracevic, The Press and Journal
Daniel Shailer, The Shetland Times

Reporter of the Year & Jim Love Memorial Trophy
Eilidh Davies, BBC Scotland
Ethan Flett, The Orcadian
Shona MacDonald, BBC Naidheachdan
Ryan Nicolson, Shetland News

Best Feature of the Year
Sarah Bruce, Press and Journal
Katie Laing, Stornoway Gazette
Ryan Nicolson, Shetland News
Daniel Shailer, The Shetland Times

Community Newspaper of the Year (sponsored by Hub North Scotland)
The Queerier (Highland News and Media)
Rudhach Magazine
West Word

Newspaper of the Year
The Inverness Courier
The Orcadian
The Shetland Times

Website of the Year (sponsored by Caledonian MacBrayne)
The Inverness Courier
Shetland News Online Ltd
This is Oban

Campaign of the Year
Give blood, save lives, Highland News and Media
Castlehill Care Home, The Press & Journal
Tain Royal Academy Community Complex (TRACC), Highland News and Media

The award winners will be revealed at the Press Ball being held at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness, on Friday, 6 February 2026.

As with previous years, the standard was exceptionally high, which meant we had to make difficult decisions after much debate and deliberation on the finalists and winners in each category.

I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to enter and for demonstrating again that high-quality work is being carried out across our vast and varied area of Scotland.

Yours sincerely,

Nicola McAlley
nicola.mcalley@hotmail.co.uk