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ENTRIES SOUGHT FOR HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS MEDIA AWARDS

The Highlands and Islands Media Awards officially open for entries today. Our judges are waiting to review the leading stories, features, and pictures from 27th November 2023 until 29th November 2024 and decide who should win the coveted titles.

  • Please check the guidelines below and send all entries by 5pm, Friday, 29th November 2024 
  • Winners will be announced at the Highlands and Islands Press Ball and Media Awards, to be held on Friday, 7th February 2025 at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness
  • We will be advising shortlisted entrants as early as possible. However, given the demand for seats at the ball, we would advise early booking to secure your spot
  • For further details of the Highlands and Islands Press Ball and Media Awards, and to book tickets, visit www.pressball.info
  • We are also seeking nominations for the Barron Trophy, the prestigious award that recognises a lifetime of achievement in journalism in the Highland and Islands. A short commendation should accompany the nomination. Please send to awards chairperson, Nicola McAlley nicola.mcalley@hotmail.co.uk

ENTRY GUIDELINES

​Send all entries to skane@kanepartnership.com

We would prefer that you enter electronically using www.wetransfer.com

Using Wetransfer

  1. Log into www.wetransfer.com
  2. Add your files
  3. Add you email address and your name in message, as well as a contact number
  4. Email to skane@kanepartnership.com

The file size limit is 2gb. You can send more than one message if needed.

However, if this is a problem, please send hard copies of your entry or entries to:

Suzanne Kane, Highlands and Islands Media Awards, 13 Grigor Drive, Inverness IV2 4LP.

In particular, we appreciate that entrants for Community Newspaper /Newspaper of the Year may find it easier to send hard copies of entries.

If there are any problems with emailing larger files please contact: Suzanne Kane, Kane Partnership: 07472107550; skane@kanepartnership.com

The categories are open to all writers, online and print, broadcasters and photographers working in the Highlands and Islands.

ALL ENTRIES SHOULD BE PRESENTED IN A NEAT AND TIDY MANNER AND ALL SCANS/FILES CLEARLY LEGIBLE. MISSING SECTIONS OF TEXT OR ILLEGIBILITY WILL, UNFORTUNATELY, DISQUALIFY ENTRIES.

Please DO NOT enter the same articles/features in separate sections i.e. Young Journalist and Feature Writer of the Year. Please submit a separate portfolio for the category of your choice.

CATEGORIES

NB – ENTRANTS MUST SUBMIT A PASSPORT/PORTRAIT-STYLE PHOTOGRAPH WITH THEIR FILES.

PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE USED ON-SCREEN AT THE AWARDS DINNER FOR THOSE SHORTLISTED, SO PLEASE SUBMIT A SUITABLE PHOTOGRAPH.

YOUNG JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ALEX MAIN TROPHY

Entrants for this category must be under 25 on 29 November 2024. Judges are seeking evidence of journalistic skill in originality, presentation, dedication, and engagement with the community the entrant represents.

Requirements – three original and individual pieces of work researched, written or broadcast by the entrant. Please supply in an easily accessible format – pdf, jpg, mp3, etc.

Please also provide your name, the name of your employer/or indicate freelance, and your contact phone number.

SPORTS REPORTER OF THE YEAR

Entries are welcome from writers/broadcasters delivering a wide range of sports coverage in the Highlands and Islands. The judges are particularly looking for articles demonstrating various abilities, preferably across various sports and/or events.

Requirements – three original and individual pieces of work researched, written or broadcast by the entrant. Please supply in an easily accessible format – pdf, jpg, mp3, etc.

Please also provide your name, the name of your employer/or indicate freelance, and your contact phone number.

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

For news, sport or feature photography published within the Highlands and Islands.

A portfolio of no more than six prints should be supplied, in colour or black and white, of which a minimum of three must have been published.

Requirements – six individual pieces of work. Please supply as un-mounted print no larger than A4 size and/or as a digital file. Please supply in an easily accessible format – pdf, jpg, mp3, etc.

Please also provide your name, the name of your employer/or indicate freelance, and your contact phone number.

BUSINESS AWARD

The winning writer or broadcaster should demonstrate service to the community through fair, accurate, and compelling coverage of an issue/campaign related to business, company activity, market developments, etc.

Requirements – three original and individual pieces of work researched, written or broadcast by the entrant. Please supply in an easily accessible format – pdf, jpg, mp3, etc.

Please also provide your name, the name of your employer/or indicate freelance, and your contact phone number.

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

The winning writer or broadcaster should demonstrate service to the community through fair, accurate, and compelling coverage of an issue/campaign related to the environment or sustainability (this might include coverage of, for example, COVID-19, climate change, greener transport, renewable energy, net zero target activity, and similar).

Requirements – three original and individual pieces of work researched, written or broadcast by the entrant. Please supply in an easily accessible format – pdf, jpg, mp3 etc.

Please also provide your name, the name of your employer/or indicate freelance, and your contact phone number.

BORD NA GAIDHLIG AWARD

This award is for the journalist who produces the story of the year in Gaelic.

Requirements: Submit the best article or broadcast written in Gaelic. Please supply it in an easily accessible file format, such as PDF, jpg, MP3, etc.

Please also provide your name, the name of your employer/or indicate freelance, and your contact phone number.

REPORTER OF THE YEAR – JIM LOVE MEMORIAL AWARD

Three separate published/broadcast stories across a range of subjects are to be supplied, indicating good community contacts, originality, accuracy, and an understanding of the target audience.

Requirements – three original and individual pieces of work researched, written, and printed or broadcast by the entrant. Please supply in an easily accessible format – pdf, jpg, mp3 etc.

Please also provide your name, the name of your employer/or indicate freelance, and your contact phone number.

COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

Open to all community newspapers/newsletters published within the Highlands and Islands.

Requirements: three individual editions. If sent digitally, please send a link to the website archive or an accessible file format.

Please also provide a contact name and phone number.

NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

Open to all newspapers published within the Highlands and Islands.

Requirements: Three individual editions. Please send a link to the website archive or an accessible file format. Please do not send individual pages.

Please also provide a contact name and phone number.

FEATURE WRITER OF THE YEAR

Three features should be submitted, demonstrating range and writing ability.

Requirements – three individual pieces of work researched, written, and printed or broadcast by the entrant. Please supply in an easily accessible format – pdf, jpg, mp3, etc.

Please also provide your name, the name of your employer/or indicate freelance, and your contact phone number.

CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR

This award aims to recognise a particular local issue of interest and concern within the community.

Requirements: Please submit your best examples highlighting your campaign in easily accessible file format, such as PDF, jpg, mp3, etc.

Please also provide your name, the name of your employer/or indicate freelance, and your contact phone number.

LOCAL WEBSITE OF THE YEAR

This award celebrates the best-designed, accessible, and engaging online content.

Requirements: Links to the website should be submitted in a Word document with a short explanation of its key aims and objectives.

Please also provide your name, the name of your employer/or indicate freelance, and your contact phone number.

THE DIAGEO JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Diageo. Overall award for the most outstanding journalistic talent of the year. This will be selected at the judges’ discretion. No entries are required.

For further information about the Highlands and Islands Media Awards, contact chairperson Nicola McAlley nicola.mcalley@hotmail.co.uk or Suzanne Kane, Kane Partnership: 07472107550; skane@kanepartnership.com