PICTURES: Highland News and Media scoop four awards at regional press ball
The Highland News and Media Group picked up four awards, including the new website of the year award at the Highlands and Islands Press Ball.
Iona MacDonald was voted young journalist of the year, receiving the Alex Main Trophy; Ewan Malcolm, business writer of the year and Beth Taylor, photographer of the year.
Gordon Fyfe, who recently stood down as chairman of the Media Awards Judging Panel, received the Barron Trophy for lifelong achievement in journalism.
The awards were presented at the 35th annual edition of the Highlands and Islands Press Ball, the only event that brings together industry colleagues from across a huge and dispersed region. Nearly 250 media representatives, politicians and heads of public and private organisations attended the event on Friday, February 2 at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness.
The ball, and associated Highlands and Islands Media Awards, attracted journalists from Shetland to Argyll and from Moray to the Outer Hebrides serving print, broadcast and online media.
The event will benefit four local charities - CHAS Children’s Hospices Across Scotland; SIMBA which supports families who have suffered baby loss; Discovery College, which helps people gain a deeper understanding of wellbeing and mental health and the Journalists’ Charity, which supports journalists nationwide.
The ball has now raised nearly £120,000 for good causes, with all the money staying in the Highlands and Islands.
Ball chairman John Ross said: “We are delighted the Press Ball continues to bring together colleagues from across the area where they are an essential part of local communities.
“Our charity fundraising is also a vital part of the occasion and we are extremely pleased to be able to contribute in a small way to some fantastic local causes.”
