This year’s Highlands and Islands Media Awards have attracted a record number of entries from across the region.
Journalists from Shetland to Argyll and from Moray to the Outer Hebrides have submitted their best work in the hope of picking up a coveted award.
Judges are now scrutinising 116 pieces of work across 12 categories covering newspaper, online and broadcast news stories and features, as well as the year’s top photographs.
Finalists will be decided on 24 December and announced shortly after Christmas. The winners will be revealed at the Highlands and Islands Press Ball, to be held on Friday, 7 February 2019 at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness, and organised by Quatro PR.
Gordon Fyfe, chairman of the Highlands and Islands Media Awards judging panel, said: “This is the highest number of entries we have received, which demonstrates the media in the Highlands and Islands is in good health.
“Thank you to everyone for taking the time to enter and good luck. We look forward to revealing the shortlists later this month and the winners in February.”
Diageo is once again principal sponsor of the awards and, in particular, the coveted Journalist of the Year trophy.
A new sponsor this year is Statkraft whose support is helping with the organisation and staging of the awards ceremony. Other support comes from Quatro PR, the National Union of Journalists, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Hub North Scotland.
Inverness Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a new award – Top Business Story of the Year – and Bòrd na Gàidhlig is again sponsoring the Best Use of Gaelic category.