British magazine journalists belatedly get recognition

As curious as it may seem, the British magazine industry hasn't, until now, had an awards program that honoured magazine journalists. There has been awards for editors and publishers and the Magazine Design Awards for about eight years, but not an award for the people who come up with the words. That is being redressed by the U.K Press Gazette, which is launching the new awards that will be made later this year. It will be held on the same night as the design awards, which are also run by the Press Gazette, (roughly the British equivalent of Masthead).

The MJAs will consist of nine categories, which include: Exclusive of the Year, Feature Writer of the Year, Interviewer of the Year, Columnist of the Year, News Reporter of the Year, Business Reporter of the Year and Reviewer of the Year. One unique award for Subbing Team of the Year recognises excellence among the unsung heroes of journalism, the desk men and copy editors. The Magazine Journalist of the Year award will be judged from the winners of the individual categories. A final award, the Magazine Icon of the Year, will be decided by panels from the Magazine Design Awards and the Magazine Journalism Awards, who will nominate and vote on the person, or the brand, that has achieved iconic status in 2006.

Press Gazette editor Ian Reeves said: "We've been busy at Press Gazette not only reinvigorating the MDAs but creating the MJAs, which we hope will celebrate the unsung heroes of the industry.

"I've long been conscious that although there are plenty of awards for magazine editors and publishers, the hard-working journalists under them do not often get the opportunity for a wider recognition of their talents.