M.E.N. named North West’s best newspaper
THE Manchester Evening News has won three awards for its coverage of the Manchester Arena bombing.
The M.E.N. was named best daily newspaper and also picked up awards for best print team and best online journalism, at the annual O2 Media Awards for the North West.
Political and social affairs editor Jennifer Williams also received a special award for journalism.
The team was presented with its awards by Arena bomb blast survivor Martin Hibbert, the Parrs Wood High School choir, which performed at the One Love fundraising concert, and the father of Olivia Campbell-Hardy, who lost her life in the attack.
M.E.N. photographer Vince Cole was highly commended in the image of the year category, while reporter Sam Yarwood was highly commended in the blogger of the year category.
The paper was also a finalist in the most memorable print category, for its coverage of the arena bombing.
■ The M.E.N. has been shortlisted for more prestigious journalism awards.
The newspaper has already been announced as a finalist in the Local Heroes category of the British Journalism Awards, being held in London on December 11. Now we have been shortlisted in the News Provider of the Year category – the only non-national publication in the running for the honour.
The Guardian, The Financial Times, Inside Housing, The Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Sunday Times and The Times are also nominated.
Judges praised the M.E.N.’s coverage and response to the Manchester Arena bomb attack in May, in which 22 people died.
A crowdfunding appeal launched by the M.E.N. in the wake of the atrocity has now raised more than £2.5m.
Every penny is being directed into the official We Love Manchester Emergency Fund, which currently stands at more than £18m.
The M.E.N.’s #WeStandTogether campaign has also been launched to create a better, more peaceful and more tolerant place to live.
Rob Irvine, editor-in-chief, said: “The team at the M.E.N. are pleased and honoured to be shortlisted for this award and to represent the regional news sector in these national awards.”