“Overwhelming” total of 603 entries narrowed down to 77 nominations
- 18 categories including National Journalist of the Year
- Four new categories for 2012
- Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Newspapers Industry
The final shortlist has been announced in this year’s National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI) Journalism Awards 2012, with a total of 77 contenders heading into next Thursday’s awards ceremony at Dublin’s Four Seasons Hotel.
This year’s NNI Journalism Awards features 18 categories, with four new awards up for grabs: Headline of the Year, Crime and Security Reporter of the Year, Sports Reporter of the Year and Commentator of the Year. In addition, a special award for Outstanding Contribution to the Newspaper Industry will be presented.
The highlight of next week’s awards ceremony is expected to be the announcement of National Journalist of the Year, which last year went to The Irish Times‘s finance correspondent Simon Carswell. This year’s nominees are Mary Fitzgerald, The Irish Times; Michael O’Farrell, Irish Mail on Sunday; and the editorial team behind the Irish Independent‘s Presidential Election coverage.
A total of 603 inividual entries were submitted as part of the NNI awards, providing this year’s judging panel, under the chairmanship of Micahel Brophy, with a huge amount of work.
“The response this year has been overwhelming and I’d like to thank my fellow jury members who worked so hard and diligently to narrow it down from more than 600 entries to just 77 nominations,” said Mr Brophy. “The standard is once again first class and a testament to the quality and diversity of Irish newspaper journalism.”
NNI Chairman, Matt Dempsey, said: “This awards scheme gives us the opportunity to honour our journalists, those whose work is the main reason that Ireland enjoys one of the highest rates of newspaper readership (80%) in Europe, if not the world.
“Quality journalism is the USP of the newspapers industry, it is why more people than ever before are reading newspapers both in print and online,” Mr Dempsey added. “We’re looking forward to the awards and I wish all the nominees the best of luck.”
The Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly has been confirmed as guest of honour for the 2012 NNI Journalism Awards, which will take place next Thursday, 25th October.
For further information:
Ann Marie Lenihan
Tel: 01 668 9099 / 086 816 2764
Email: amlenihan@cullencommunications.ie
NNI Journalism Awards 2012 Shortlist in Full
National Journalist of the Year
Michael O’Farrell, Irish Mail on Sunday
Irish Independent Presidential Election Team: Fiach Kelly, Cormac McQuinn, Fionnan Sheahan and Michael Brennan, Irish Independent
Mary Fitzgerald, The Irish Times
Regional Journalist of the Year
Marisa Rediy, The Kerryman
David Looby, Wexford Echo
Joe Leogue, The Corkman
Sarah Horgan, Evening Echo
Crime & Security Reporter of the Year
Paul Williams, The Irish Sun
Nicola Tallant, Sunday World
Niall Donald, Sunday World
John Mooney, The Sunday Times
Gemma O’Doherty, Irish Independent
Alan Sherry, Sunday World
Eimear Ni Bhraonain, Irish Independent
Scoop of the Year
Senan Molony, Irish Daily Mail
Fionnan Sheehan, Irish Independent
Michael O’Farrell, Irish Mail on Sunday
Adelina Campos, Irish Sunday Mirror
Critic of the Year
Gemma Tipton, The Irish Times
Liam Fay, The Sunday Times
Eileen Battersby, The Irish Times
Tom Doorley, Irish Daily Mail
Political Journalist of the Year
Juno McEnroe, Irish Examiner
Martin Wall, The Irish Times
Eimear Ni Bhraonain, Irish Independent
Cormac McQuinn, Irish Independent
Miriam Lord, The Irish Times
Business & Economics Journalist of the Year
Mark Keenan, Irish Independent
Charlie Weston, Irish Independent
Tom Lyons, Sunday Independent
Simon Carswell, The Irish Times
Conor Keane, Irish Examiner
Ian Kehoe, Sunday Business Post
Commentator of the Year
Mary Ellen Synon, Irish Daily Mail
Dearbhail McDonald, Irish Independent
Dermot Bolger, Irish Daily Mail
Lara Marlowe, The Irish Times
Columnist of the Year
Paddy Murray, Sunday World
Michael Harding, The Irish Times
Father Brian Darcy, Sunday World
Justine McCarthy, The Sunday Times
Feature Writer of the Year
Philip Nolan, Irish Daily Mail
Eimear Ni Bhraonain, Irish Independent
Kathy Sheridan, The Irish Times
Gemma O’Doherty, Irish Independent
Conor Lally, The Irish Times
Catherine Fegan, Irish Daily Mail
Young Journalist
Jennifer Bray, Irish Daily Mail
Niall O’Connor, Evening Herald
Adelina Campos, Irish Sunday Mirror
Orla Tinsley, The Irish Times
David Sneyd, Irish Mail on Sunday
Sarah Bardon, Irish Daily Mirror
Newspapers in Education
TY People – People Newspapers
Titanic Supplement – Irish Independent
Headline of the Year
“Honey we Blew Up The Kids” – The Sunday Times
“Trunk and Disorderly” – The Irish Sun
“7 Hours and 15 days” – Irish Daily Star
“Tiocfaidh Ar Lamh” – Irish Daily Star
Sports Reporter of the Year
Dion Fanning, Sunday Independent
Martin Breheny, Irish Independent
Malachy Clerkin, The Irish Times
Kieran Cunningham, Irish Daily Star
Ewan McKenna, Irish Examiner
Philip Quinn, Irish Daily Mail
Sports Columnist of the Year
Neil Francis, Sunday Independent
Eamonn Sweeney, Sunday Independent
Keith Duggan, The Irish Times
Dion Fanning, Sunday Independent
Roy Curtis, Sunday World
Showbiz Journalist of the Year
Niamh Walsh, Irish Mail on Sunday
Alana Fearon, Irish Daily Mirror
Eoin Murphy, Irish Mail on Sunday
Alexandra Ryan, Irish Mail on Sunday
Best Design & Presentation
Sunday World
Irish Daily Mail
The Irish Times (The Ticket)
