Over 500 applications received for 14 editorial and business categories in print and digital publications
The Meath Chronicle earned five nominations in four categories at this year’s Local Ireland Media Awards, which recognize and celebrate the excellence of regional news editors.
The Chronicle’s innovative use of video and online content received TWO nominations in the Best Use of Digital section.
The first video story was about the plight of the homeless and homeless in Navan before Christmas 2020 and the local outreach team trying to help them.
The second nod in this category was for the Chronicle’s Lockdown Heroes campaign where the newspaper celebrated the people who uplifted and inspired their communities during the height of the pandemic. The video saw the recipients surprised with their awards and certificates. Here’s one of those videos shown to Sinead Baker at Athboy who won the ‘Best Neighbor’ award, while another shows one of Special Hands’ joint winners Shay and Linda receiving their award.
Journalist Sally harding was nominated in the Best Feature Film section for her story about a transgender woman from Kells who shared her story and thanked her hometown for their support and acceptance.
The newspaper’s campaign celebrating the Lockdown Heroes was also nominated in the Best Innovation category while the High St Ashbourne promotional campaign was selected for the list of Best Advertising Campaigns.
Over 500 entries were received in 14 editorial and business categories in print and digital publications.
Editor-in-Chief Gavan Becton said he was delighted that the hard work and commitment to providing quality local journalism to the people of Meath was recognized by the judges and sent his best wishes to all nominees.
“We are delighted to have been nominated and especially after the very difficult year that we have had. We have sought to address the challenges that the pandemic has presented to us and our communities and to continue to produce the best editorial content possible.
Jury President Ine Kerr said: “For the past two years when the world was chaotic and unpredictable, what was consistent and stable in people’s daily lives was their local newspaper.
“This year’s nominees demonstrate the ability of local Irish newspapers to meet unprecedented challenges and deliver quality, public service-oriented journalism. The nominees represent the best of local Irish journalism today.
The prizes, which are sponsored by the National Lottery, will take place on Thursday, November 11 at the Bloomfield House Hotel, near Mullingar.
National Lottery Managing Director Andrew Algeo said: “At the National Lottery we are incredibly proud of our association with the Local Ireland Media Awards, which continue to recognize the important role of local journalism in our society.
“Local media in Ireland have a long and proud tradition of producing trusted and exceptional journalists and these awards rightly recognize those journalists and their colleagues who provide vital public service through groundbreaking reporting at a time when we have it. most needed.
“This is our fourth year of sponsorship for the Local Ireland Awards and we are particularly honored to judge our own special award for Best Community History. “
The awards will be presented at night by the President of Local Ireland, Declan McGuire of the Connacht Tribune. Mr. McGuire said: “Every appointment is an achievement in itself and the appointees should be justifiably proud of being on the shortlist.
“As the judges said, the entry level has been extremely high. I would like to thank and congratulate everyone who entered the awards for their contribution to the high standards of professional journalism that we see in all of our membership titles. It is through everyone’s efforts that we continue to play such a valuable role in our communities across the country.
The judges of the Local Ireland Awards are: President Áine Kerr, co-founder and COO kinzen.com; Michael Foley, Professor Emeritus, School of Media, University of Technology Dublin: Dawn Wheatley, DCU School of Communications; Managing Director of Kinetic Ireland Andrew Sinclair; photographer and former Irish Times editor Frank Miller; presenter and writer Valerie Cox; and journalist and author PJ Cunningham.
And kudos to our sister titles nominated for the Local Ireland Media Awards, Westmeath Independent, Connaught Telegraph and Anglo Celt …
NOMINATED FOR LOCAL IRLAND AWARDS 2021
Best photography:
John Kelly, Clare Champion – The Village Blacksmith
Joe O’Shaughnessy, Connacht Tribune – Off target
John Kelly, Clare Champion – Pyrite Home
Lorraine Teevan, Anglo-Celtic – The wind that shakes the Brolly
Best use of photography:
Southern Star – Sacred Smoke;
Connacht Tribune – Back in our bubble
Champion Sligo – Public To The Rescue
Connacht Tribune – Pecked hen
Best News Series:
Mayo News – What’s better for the West
Galway City Tribune – The Miracle of Galway Bay
The people of Wexford – Home in our hearts
The Kerryman – Help Ronan Get Surgery
Best Local Advertising:
Connacht Tribune – Athens Credit Union
Connacht Tribune – Craughwell Furniture
Anglo-Celtic – Credit Union
Connacht Tribune – Connacht Hospitality
Best advertising campaign:
Meath Chronicle – High Street Ashbourne
Connacht Tribune – Connacht Hospitality
Mediahuis Ireland Regionals – E-Paper
Better use of digital:
Waterford News and Star – The family that beat the virus
Meath Chronicle – The Rough Sleepers of Navan
The leader of Limerick – Coaching Insights
Meath Chronicle – Lockdown Hero Awards
Better use of social media:
Drogheda Independent – Promotional Videos
Western People – The Night U2 Rocked Ballina
Connacht Tribune – We’re all in the same boat
Independent Westmeath – Midlands TV News
Best innovation:
Wexford People – We miss you
Connaught Telegraph – Mayo Day
Meath Chronicle – Lockdown Heroes
Mediahuis Ireland Regionals – E-Paper
Sports journalist of the year:
Paul Fitzpatrick, Anglo-Celtic
Jessica Farry, Sligo Champion
Colin Sheridan, Mayo News
Ian Cooney, Herald of Roscommon
Best Feature Story:
Sally Harding, Meath Chronicle – Rachel’s Transformation
Claire Quinn, Waterford News and Star – COVID-19 and the Deise
James Fogarty, Roscommon Herald – Father Molloy
Maria Pepper, Wexford People – Parental Alienation
Community History of the National Lottery of the Year:
Eamon Lacey, The Nationalist / Tipperary Live – Hugs, kisses and tears for Eve as she moves into her new home
Darragh Kelly and Ellen O’Riordan, Roscommon Herald – Fire ignites community response for Tom
Alison Comyn, Drogheda Independent – Drogheda doll plays her part
Dan Danaher, Clare Champion – Residents Fight To Protect Their Homes In Springfield
Best report:
Stephen Corrigan, Galway City Tribune – Home are the Heroes
Anthony Hennigan, Western People – Foxford Home raffle for COVID heroes
Liam Cosgrave, Longford Leader – CAB, Revenue and the Illegal Wedding
Sinead Kelleher – The Kerryman – Skellig Star Direct Provision Controversy
Best supplement:
Westmeath Independent – War on the Press
Waterford News and Star – Days Gone By
Westerners – Through the Ages
Mayo News – All of Ireland
Best homepage:
Galway City Tribune, Home are the Heroes
Mayo News – Gather, Stay Away
The Kerryman – Unprecedented
Connacht Tribune – Bringing out our best
