Western People staff in running for national media awards
Launching the 2024 Local Ireland Media Awards which take place next Thursday night were, from left: Jennifer Crowe, Head of Corporate Affairs, the National Lottery, President of Local Ireland Dan Linehan and Judges’ chair Alison O’Connor. Picture: Jason Clarke/Mac Innes Photography
The has earned nominations in five categories at the 9th Local Ireland Media Awards which take place in Mullingar next Thursday night.
The hotly-contested accolades showcase excellence in journalism and the achievements of Ireland’s local news publishers and their staff.
This year’s awards will be sponsored for the seventh consecutive year by the National Lottery.
In contention on the double is deputy editor and sports editor Anthony Hennigan who has been shortlisted for both Feature Journalist of the Year and Sports Journalist of the Year.
For the second year in-a-row, Fr Brendan Hoban is among the contenders to be crowned Columnist of the Year while fellow columnist, Conor McGuire, is shortlisted as Best Diversity Journalist.
The newspaper is also bidding to win ‘Best Supplement of the Year’ for , its coverage of US President Joe Biden’s 2023 visit to the county of his forefathers.
“We have had nearly 600 entries for the awards which underlines the quality and excellence of our local newspapers and their digital and online platforms,” commented Dan Linehan, President of Local Ireland and Head of Irish Times Regionals.
“I want to thank the National Lottery for their sponsorship of the awards and their commitment to supporting local journalism, which is at the heart of communities across Ireland.”
The judges for the awards include author and broadcaster Alison O’Connor, who is chairing the panel, broadcaster and journalist Dearbhail McDonald, Emeritus Professor at TUD Michael Foley, Dawn Wheatley of DCU School of Communications, Managing Director of Kinetic Ireland Andrew Sinclair, photographer and former Picture Editor Frank Miller, broadcaster and writer Valerie Cox, journalist and author PJ Cunningham, novelist and newspaper columnist Dr Martina Devlin, Policy Editor of the Business Post Daniel Murray and Deputy Night Editor of the Irish Sun Gerry McCarthy.
“We are incredibly proud of our continued association with the Local Ireland Media Awards that recognise the top-class journalists and media professionals who tirelessly serve our local communities,” remarked National Lottery CEO Cian Murphy.
The award winners will be announced at a gala event at the Mullingar Park Hotel on Thursday, September 19. The evening will be hosted by RTÉ presenter and Eurovision guru Marty Whelan.
