YOUR local newspaper has done it again!

The Hexham Courant is the Society of Editors Paid for weekly/Sunday Newspaper of the Year Below 50,000 Monthly Reach.

The Regional Press Awards 2020 are the Oscars of the journalism calendar.

Today from a field of almost 700 entries, the winners and highly commended were announced in a special online event.

Vanessa Sims, editor of The Hexham Courant said: “The Hexham Courant team pride themselves as being at the heart of the community and this award is a real testament to their resilience and refusal to let COVID-19 stand in their way.

“Every team member’s passion and dedication can be seen in every single edition.

“To be recognised as the best weekly newspaper by our peers after such a difficult year is a brilliant achievement.”

Hexham Courant:

The awards were supported by Facebook Journalism Project, Camelot, Google News Initiative, Amazon, HoldTheFrontPage. the Journalists’ Charity and the News Media Association and recognise excellence throughout the regional and local press during the unprecedented times posed by COVID-19.

Commenting on the Courant, award judges said: “The Hexham Courant shows what can be achieved with a dedicated editorial team committed to community reporting. Its coverage of how coronavirus has affected local people is excellent.

"A commitment to courts and council coverage, and Northumberland’s political life has yielded plenty of page leads and performed a valuable service in informing the public.”