Reach plc has revived its company awards event with prizes handed out over 27 categories.

The publisher’s inaugural Celebrating Brilliant Journalism Awards took place last Thursday in Manchester with the aim of highlighting the work of its journalists and teams over the past year.

Among the winners was the Birmingham Mail’s Jane Haynes, who was named journalist of the year jointly with Zak Garner-Purkis from national daily The Express.

The Liverpool Echo won the live reporting award for its coverage of the Southport murders, while the Manchester Evening News and Belfast Live were jointly named website of the year.

The MEN’s Andrew Bardsley was named longform writer of the year while Belfast Live’s James McCarthy was political journalist of the year.

The event was hosted by Carol Vorderman, who spoke fondly about her love of local news.

Chief digital publisher David Higgerson said: “With thousands of journalists and a 24-hour operation spanning both sides of the Atlantic, we sometimes forget to pause and recognise the incredible work being done by our journalists every single day.

“These awards are to celebrate and thank those journalists and teams, for everything from the big stories setting the agenda to the important work going on behind the scenes, to the front pages, photographs, and audio/video work that make an impact beyond the words.”

The full list of winners was as follows:

Local Democracy Reporter of the year – Lee Trewhela (Cornwall)
Team of the year – Content Hub
Brand of the year – Express
Editorial hero – Grace Franklin (Live Network)
Longform writer of the year – Andrew Bardsley (Manchester Evening News)
Photographer of the year – Humphrey Nemar
Sports journalist of the year – Steffan Thomas (WalesOnline)
Judges’ choice – Robert Fisk (Express)
Website of the year (joint winners) – Manchester Evening News and BelfastLive
Best editorial and commercial partnership – Pride of Britain
Best affiliates journalism – Manchester Evening News
Creative award – Adam Walker
Audio & video award – Hotline Live (Daily Record)
Rising star – Emily Ferguson (Express)
Sport page of the year – Paul Abdale (Mirror)
Front page of the year (nationals) – Daily Record – Vote Labour
Front page of the year (regionals) – Bristol Post – No Place on Our Streets
Best use of data – Annie Gouk
Headline of the year – Austin Barrett (Daily Record) – Some Might Stay (But it will cost a fortune)
Content editor of the year – Charlotte Smith (Content Hub)
Journalist of the year – (joint winners)- Zak Garner-Purkis (Express) and Jane Haynes (Birmingham Mail/BirminghamLive)
Live reporting of the year – Liverpool Echo, Southport coverage
Scoop of the year – Mirror – exclusive interview with Huw Edwards victim
Belonging Project awards for engaging new audiences (joint winners) – Paul McAuley (Liverpool Echo), Hedi Mehrez (Reach South East)
Apprentice of the year – Charlotte Gosling
Social Journalist of the year – Grace Burton (BristolLive)
Political journalist of the year – James McCarthy (BelfastLive)