Strathy misses out to The Orcadian in Scottish Press Awards

The Strathy has missed out on winning the prestigious Scottish Local Newspaper of the Year award at the Scottish Press Awards.

The accolade went to The Orcadian with the Dunfermline Press being named runner-up from the shortlist of five titles.

The Orcadian was chosen by a panel of Scottish daily newspaper editors for how it continually punched above its weight – producing a paper and website packed with strong news stories.

The Strathy's Gavin Musgrove said afterwards: "It was a shame not to win the top award but it was great to be recognised by making the nationwide shortlist."

Jane Barlow became the first photographer to win journalist of the year at the Scottish Press Awards, now in their 44th year.

She won the honour for her 'moving' last public pictures of the Queen before her death.

Barlow also won news photographer of the year at the ceremony held on Wednesday night at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central.

She was praised by judges for her 'stunning' portrait of the monarch at Balmoral as the royal met then Prime Minister Liz Truss in September last year, shortly before her death later that month aged 96.

Other big winners at the annual awards included the Scottish Daily Mail, who won the prestigious newspaper of the year and journalism team of the year for its coverage of the Queen’s death and overall consistency as a product.

The Sunday Post won Sunday Newspaper of the Year for the second year running, for its quality reporting and hard-hitting journalism.

Chair of judges, Richard Neville, the former Head of News Brands at DC Thomson and now founding director of Neville Robertson Communications, praised Barlow for her award win.

He said: “It’s easy to forget that journalism is not just about words but everything which goes into creating and conveying a story and this journalist was on hand to document for posterity the final act of a truly extraordinary life which came to define the life of the United Kingdom.

“Her stunning and moving portrait of the late Queen told a story it would take hundreds of words to tell and how it came about became a story in itself. Jane’s work had impact not just across Scotland but right around the world.”

It was also a triumphant evening for Marion Scott of the Sunday Post, who was named reporter of the year and the winner of the Nicola Barry Award for the second year running, as well as picking up the Scoop of the Year prize.

A total of 35 awards crediting the vital work of print and digital journalism were announced on the evening.

Richard Neville was joined by 40 independent judges from across the Scottish media, communications and public affairs industries. Former BBC Scotland newsreader Jackie Bird hosted the event.

More information about all Scottish Press Awards winners can be found here

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