Awards flow in again for Wales’ national paper
THE Western Mail has been named daily newspaper of the year at the Regional Press Awards.
Judges at the prestigious UK-wide event yesterday praised its “superb journalism throughout”.
And columnist Carolyn Hitt has once again been named Columnist of the Year for being “a class act among columnists”.
Carolyn, who has won the award three years in a row and watched the virtual ceremony with her dad, has written for the Western Mail for almost 28 years.
After being announced as joint winner, she said: “I’m absolutely thrilled. It was enough of a surprise to win last year – I never thought three years running was possible.
“It’s a privilege to have a weekly platform to share thoughts and experiences with Western Mail readers. I really value the Welsh audience I write for.
“The awards event in London is always a lovely day out and obviously it wasn’t possible this year. But to be honest, watching the online ceremony and being able to share the moment with my 87-year-old dad has made this year the most special of all.”
Her success came on a good day for journalists at the Western Mail and our website WalesOnline.
Other individual winners were Weekend magazine writer Amanda Powell, who won feature/long-form journalist of the year, and journalist Kathryn Williams, who scooped the Reporting Communities Award.
Amanda was recognised for drawing on her experiences as a junior reporter during the 1984-185 Miners’ Strike for its 35th anniversary and featuring the community of New Tredegar in the aftermath of the murder of child killer David Gaut.
Delighted Amanda hopes her award reflects the warmth, kindness and strong spirit of the communities and the generosity of the people who agreed to be interviewed.
“The two pieces about the miners’ strike brought back very strong memories from a time when I was starting in journalism and it was a privilege to be able to revisit those events with fresh eyes.”
Kathryn, who has been a reporter for 16 years, said: “If there’s one award a proud Rhondda girl could choose then Reporting Communities would be it.
“To be recognised for lifting up Welsh and Valleys communities to their deserved level and giving them a voice is something that has overwhelmed yet satisfied this Treorchyborn reporter. It sounds cheesy, but if you don’t maintain the roots the grass will not grow tall.”
Those highly commended were head of sport Paul Abbandonato in the Sports Journalist of the Year category; breaking news editor Cathy Owen for Digital Live News Reporter of the Year – her second year in a row; acting political editor Will Hayward for the Reporting Communities category; and Marcus Hughes for Young Journalist of the Year.
WalesOnline’s social media team, led by head of audience Chiara Rinaldi and Newport audience editor Joshua Knapman, was highly commended in the Social Media Team of the Year category.
The Western Mail won the Daily Newspaper of the Year (below 400,000 monthly reach) category, in which it was highly commended last year.
Editor Catrin Pascoe said: “We are thrilled, absolutely thrilled, to receive such recognition for our journalism.”