O2 Media Awards expand for 2017

Five new categories to celebrate region’s talent

A record number of categories, including five new awards celebrating the best of news, sports and entertainment broadcasting, will feature in this year’s O2 Media Awards for the North West.

Nicola Green, Director of Corporate Affairs at O2 UK, said the 2017 awards will recognise the North West’s prominent position as a centre of excellence for media production.

“The North West continues to develop as a media hub, nationally and internationally and it’s important that the talent that’s operating in the region is recognised. These awards celebrate the work of the North West media – in all its forms – from ultra local community journalism through to contribution of those involved in TV programmes, originated in the region, but seen around the world,” she added.

Categories for the region’s top print, radio and TV journalists remain. New awards will include the chance to nominate the best entertainment programme originated or filmed in the North West.

Awards for the year’s Most Memorable story and the region’s best Vlogger or Blogger also feature among the 23 categories.

This year’s awards are open to all publishers, broadcasters and production teams operating within and across the North West region as well as the counties of Shropshire, Staffordshire, Flintshire and Denbighshire.

As in previous years a number of awards will pitch journalists chiefly working in print and on-line sectors – against those from radio and TV. Once again there is also no entry fee to enter the competition. Deadline for entries is Thursday, August 3, 2017. Only work published or broadcast between July 2, 2016 and July 3, 2017, is eligible for the individual and team categories.

Judging panels will meet in August and September and shortlisted nominees will be announced in October. All nominees will be invited to a memorable awards presentation in Manchester on November 9, 2017, where category winners will be crowned.

Judges will be looking to identify the most talented and creative people in the region’s media industry as well as those making an outstanding contribution to their community.

This year organisers are also asking journalists to nominate their favourite performer from a TV drama or entertainment programme either originated, produced or predominantly filmed in the North West. Nominations can be for a one-off programme, series or long-running serial and emailed to O2mediaawards@rossitermedia.co.uk

The O2 Media Awards have the support of ITV and BBC, the Press Association and leading newspaper publishers. Judges are made up of experts from the media industry and include working journalists, editors and publishers, writers and producers. The O2 Media Awards North West are part of a series of regional media contests across the North of England.

This year’s categories are:

• News Reporter
• Best Writer
• Best Entertainment Programme
• Specialist Publication
• Television Journalist
• Sports Journalist
• Young Journalist
• Radio Journalist
• Best Images
• Most Memorable
• On-line Journalism
• Daily Newspaper
• Weekly Newspaper
• Community Newspaper
• Best Team
• Broadcast Programme (News & Factual)
• Best Programme (Sport)
• Community Journalism
• Broadcast Presenter
• Best Magazine
• Vlogger/Blogger Award
• O2 Stand Out Award
• O2 Judges’ Award

Entry forms are available by contacting Rossiter Media on 01829 741371 or by e-mail request to O2mediaawards@rossitermedia.co.uk

Join in the conversation with #O2MediaAwards2017

For more information, contact

O2 Press Office contacts

t +44 (0)1753565656

e: pressoffice@o2.com

All O2 news releases can be accessed at our website: www.o2.co.uk/news