HERALD journalists have won three major prizes in this year's Bank of Scotland Press Awards.
Ian McConnell as Financial Writer of the Year was praised for his clear and crisp reporting of complex topics and as a distinctive writer who breaks stories.
Alf Young took the Business Writer award. The judges said his coverage of The Bank of Scotland/Standard Life bid showed his authoritative style at its very best.
The Critic/Reviewer prize went to Ajay Close, who earned plaudits for her clear and incisive writing which was ''an absolute pleasure to read''.
The Journalist of the Year award went to Ian Bell, of the Scotsman, for his ''challenging but sensitive'' columns in the wake of the Dunblane tragedy.
The Herald's sister paper, the Evening Times, won two awards. Sheila Hamilton was Feature Writer of the Year for articles on humanitarian issues, described as ''wonderful quality tabloid feature writing''. Lorna MacLaren won the David Boyle medical prize for her innovative approach to writing on illnesses like schizophrenia and elective mutism.
The awards, now in their 14th year, attracted a record 400 entries. At a ceremony at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, the judges also presented a lifetime achievement award to Jim Seaton, former editor of the Scotsman.
Journalist of the Year: Ian Bell, the Scotsman.
Reporter of the Year: joint award to Iain Ferguson, Anna Smith, and Charles Beaton of the Daily Record, for their investigation into the Celtic Boys Club sex abuse scandal. Commended: Audrey Gillan, Scotland on Sunday; Nic Outterside, the Scotsman.
Feature writer of the Year: Sheila Hamilton, Evening Times. Commended: Anne Simpson, The Herald; Gerard Seenan, The Herald.
Columnist of the Year: Nicola Barry, Daily Record. Commended: Fordyce Maxwell, the Scotsman; Dorothy-Grace Elder, the Express and Scotland on Sunday.
Campaigning Writer of the Year: Anne Dalrymple, Paisley Daily Express. Commended: Malcolm Reid, Evening Times; Duncan Hamilton, Edinburgh Evening News.
Financial Writer of the Year: Ian McConnell, The Herald. Commended: Simon Bain, Scotland on Sunday and The Herald; Andrew Garfield, Scotland on Sunday.
Business Writer of the Year: Alf Young, The Herald. Commended: Robina Gibb, the Scotsman, Terry Murden, Sunday Times Scotland.
Sports Journalist of the Year: Bryan Cooney, Scottish Daily Mail. Commended: Brian Meek, The Herald; Kevin McCarra, Sunday Times Scotland.
Specialist Writer of the Year: Angus Macleod, Sunday Mail. Commended: Christopher Cairns, the Scotsman; Bruce McKain, The Herald.
Critic/Reviewer of the Year: Ajay Close, The Herald. Commended: Donny O'Rourke, the Scotsman; Ian Gale, Scotland on Sunday.
Arts/Entertainment Writer of the Year (also wins Alex Mitchell/ Stanley Baxter award): Tom Lappin, the Scotsman. Commended: Alan Morrison, The List; Margaret Chrystall, Highland News.
Anthony Finlay Young Journalist of the Year: Amanda Hooton, the Scotsman. Commended: Iain Duff, Evening Times; David Milne, the Big Issue in Scotland.
Weekly Newspaper Journalist of the Year: Olivia Bell, Highland News. Commended: Tracey Miller, Wishaw Press; Andrew Gilchrist, the Big Issue in Scotland.
David Boyle (Erskine Hospital) Memorial Award: Lorna MacLaren, Evening Times. Commended: Nicola Barry, Daily Record; Alan MacDermid, The Herald.
Sgriobhadh Gaidhlig (Gaelic writing): Ruairidh MacIlleathain (Roddy Maclean), the Scotsman. Commended: Alasdair Caimbeul (West Highland Free Press arts supplement); Iain Moireasdan (West Highland Free Press).
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