Region’s top media talent to be honoured.
Birmingham Airport has confirmed that it is to be the main sponsor of this year’s Birmingham Press Club-organised Midlands Media Awards.
The airport’s decision to support the awards for the ninth successive year was revealed at a Press Club Editors Lunch, held at Bournville College, to officially mark the launch of this year’s awards.
Birmingham Airport chief executive Paul Kehoe, said: “We’re delighted to be the main sponsor for this year’s Midlands Media Awards, celebrating the achievements of the region’s journalists, broadcasters, photographers and bloggers over the past 12 months.
He added: “This is the ninth successive year we have supported the event and over that time, we have seen the standard get higher and higher. This year’s awards hold extra significance as the Birmingham Press Club celebrates its150th anniversary, which is a cause for celebration in itself.”
Entries are now being received for the awards, which will be initially scrutinised by a panel of 50 professionals who will then submit a shortlist to the final judging panel under the chairmanship of Peter Lowe (pictured) managing editor of Sky News.
Press Club chairman Ed James said: “The awards, eagerly-awaited by those working in the region’s media industry, are a reflection of the tremendous achievements that are being made by those working in a profession which now seems to face fresh challenges almost daily.”
Peter, who will be acting as chairman of the judging panel for the third year, said: “I feel very honoured to be asked back again. That makes it a hat-trick!
“If the last two years are anything to go by, then the standard is likely to be even higher this time. The bar just keeps being raised, especially in last year’s Newspaper of the Year entries.”
He added: “Earlier this year, The Media Guardian reported that 150 local newspapers had closed down in the UK since 2008, which underlines the challenge facing the industry.
“But despite those difficulties, good journalism in the Midlands continues to thrive and to diversify. Last year’s winner of the Newspaper of the Year Award, the Derby Telegraph, and its sister titles, now have 1.6 million unique users per month online alongside their print readership. This is just one example of the many great Midlands publications putting great effort and innovation into meeting the demands of changing habits in media consumption.”
Peter said: “This time last year I bemoaned the fact that there had been very few entries for blogs in the previous awards – so what happened? Yes, we were deluged with excellent writing about myriad subjects and gave ourselves a huge task finding a winner. Feel free to make it just as difficult this time!
“As always, the judges will of course be looking for the best journalism, the best writing and the best use of pictures. And I will be setting a great deal of store by originality as well as keeping an eye out for good coverage of the General Election campaign in the region.
“Best of luck with your entries for 2015. And remember, you can’t win if you don’t enter!”
The awards – with 22 categories ranging from Newspaper of the Year to Blogger of the Year – are to take place at The Holte Suite, Villa Park, on Thursday, September 10.
Because of the General Election, the deadline for entries – relating to material published or broadcast between March 31 of last year and June 5, 2015 – has been extended to June 5. Please visit the website for a copy of the entry form www.midlandsmediaawards.co.uk