Strathy wins Highlands and Islands newspaper of the year crown
The Strathy has won the coveted title of newspaper of the year award at the annual Highlands and Islands Media Awards.
The newspaper was praised for what judges described as its impressive lay out, in-depth coverage of local news and sport and for its forthright commentary on community issues.
Special mention was made of the paper’s commemoration of the outbreak of World War 1.
Editor Gavin Musgrove was among 270 guests attending the annual Highlands and Islands Press Ball which brings together media representatives from an area stretching from Shetland to Argyll and Moray to the Outer Hebrides.
Also shortlisted in the category were the Inverness Courier and the Oban Times.
The event was held at the New Drumossie Hotel in Inverness, on Friday evening.
Mr Musgrove said: "It’s great for the paper to be recognised in this way and I’d like to thank all those who help make the Strathy what it is - especially our Kingussie-based reporter Tom Ramage, as well our readers and advertisers for their continuing support."
The top award of the night went to Eilidh Davies, the Chief Reporter with the Highland News, who was named Journalist of the Year.
The Inverness-based journalist was the unanimous choice of the judges, having also won the reporter of the year title and being shortlisted in the top story of the year category.
Former Strathy reporter Jane Candlish, now with the Press and Journal, won the latter category for her work on the controversial arming of police officers on routine patrols in the Highlands.
Am Pàipear which serves the Uists, retained the Community Newspaper of the Year title.
Presenting the awards was Keith Miller, Distillation and Maturation Director of Diageo, the event’s principal sponsor.
The event was again organised by Inverness-based Lucid PR, Events and Marketing, with other support this year provided by Fujitsu, BT Scotland, Chivas, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the National Union of Journalists and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
The ball’s fundraising will benefit four charities – Alzheimer Scotland, Highland Homeless Trust, HUG Action for Mental Health and the Crocus Child Bereavement Support Service.
The full list of award winners is - Best Use of Gaelic: Shona MacDonald, BBC Alba
Best Use of Digital Media: Am Pàipear Uist
Photographer of the Year: Trevor Martin, freelance, Inverness
Top Shot of the Year: Willie Urquhart, West Highland Free Press
Young Journalist of the Year and the Alex Main Trophy: David Kerr, Press and Journal, Inverness
Sports Reporter of the Year: Euan Paterson, Oban Times
Reporter of the Year and the Jim Love Memorial Trophy: Eilidh Davies, Highland News
Top Story of the Year: Jane Candlish, Press and Journal, Inverness
Feature Writer of the Year: Jim Tait, Shetland Times
Community Newspaper of the Year: Am Pàipear, Uist
Newspaper of the Year: Strathspey and Badenoch Herald
Diageo Journalist of the Year: Eilidh Davies, Highland News
Barron Trophy for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism: Neil MacPhail, Press and Journal, Inverness
