Press And Broadcast Awards Winners Honoured

Some of Northern Ireland's leading journalists have been honoured by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

A total of 20 awards were presented at the Coca-Cola-sponsored Press and Broadcast Awards.



The gala ceremony was held at the Europa Hotel in Belfast and compèred by Gordon Burns, the former presenter of ITV's Krypton Factor and the current anchorman of BBC's North West Tonight news programme.



The evening's top award - the Coca-Cola CIPR Northern Ireland Journalist of the Year - went to David Gordon of the Belfast Telegraph.

The Daily Newspaper of the Year award was won by the Irish News while the Newry Democrat picked up the Weekly Newspaper of the Year title.

Among the broadcast winners was Ulster Television's political correspondent, Ken Reid, who won the Specialist Journalist of the Year and Scoop of the Year categories.



Other top awards winners included BBC Northern Ireland's Andy Martin (News/Current Affairs Broadcaster of the Year) and the Belfast Telegraph's Lesley-Anne Henry who was named Newcomer of the Year and winner of the Martin O'Hagan Memorial Bursary.



In addition, a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Robin Walsh, a former controller of BBC Northern Ireland and the current cricket correspondent of the Sunday Life.



The presentation of the awards followed a rigorous judging process carried out by 15 leading representatives of print and broadcast media in England and Ireland.

The panel was chaired by Bob Satchwell, Executive Director of the Society of Editors who is also chair of the judging panel for the prestigious British Press Awards.



Praising the quality of this year's entries - despite the difficulties facing media organisations as a result of the current economic downturn - he said: 

"There is nothing better when we are surrounded by so much economic gloom across the media than to see an abundance of top class journalism that will ensure that there is a future for the media once we have cleared the minefield.


"Across all 19 categories, the winners have again demonstrated the excellent journalistic skills and talents for which Northern Ireland is renowned and which are personified by this year's Lifetime Achievement winner, Robin Walsh," he added.



Speaking at the awards ceremony, Gokhan Bilgic Managing Director of Coca-Cola HBC Ireland, said the company was delighted to have the opportunity to honour so many gifted individuals from the world of press and broadcast in Northern Ireland.



"That is why genuine community investment is a strategic priority for us, and why we have been delighted to support the CIPR Press and Broadcast Awards over the past three years," he said.

Maire Campbell, Chair of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) NI, added that the media awards are unique in the UK and Ireland as they are the only ones to be organised by the public relations profession.

(GK/BMcC)