Journalistic talent at 2014 Midlands Media Awards

Nominations still open for local media recognition.

Talented broadcasters, journalists and photographers from across the Midlands are being given the opportunity to showcase their achievements at their own Oscars-style event in Birmingham.

“The region has some of the best news gathers and media operations in the country and it is only fitting that their journalistic skills should be recognised,” said Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive of Birmingham Airport, which is headline sponsor of this year’s Midlands Media Awards.

Mr Kehoe added:  “This is the eighth year that the airport has sponsored the Awards. We are very pleased to continue our association with the Press Club’s flagship event and to celebrate the best of quality journalism within local and regional communities.”

The presentation evening, being held at the Holte Suite, Villa Park, on Thursday June 5th, acknowledges the achievements of journalists and photographers working within the region’s newspapers, magazines, digital platforms, television and radio.

Heart Breakfast Presenter Ed James, who is Press Club Chairman, commented: “The Awards are now in their 13th year and we are delighted that Birmingham Airport remains one of our staunchest supporters. As for the entrants themselves, they are adapting their skills to survive in a challenging environment of fast-moving change and we have paid due regard to that by also acknowledging the digital age in our categories and enabling entries to be submitted on-line.”

Alison Plant, Head of Sponsorship and Hospitality at Aston Villa, said:  “As a premier events location, it is appropriate that we should be hosting the media sector’s leading awards ceremony.”

Paula Kelsey, Managing Director of Cloud 9, the event management company, which is organising the awards on behalf of the Press Club, said that entries for the awards’ 22 categories had to be received by 6 pm on March 31st.

Last year, The Lincolnshire Echo won the Newspaper of the Year category, while Les Reid, of the Coventry Telegraph, scooped Journalist of the Year.