Michelle Fiddler’s scoop award was in recognition of her piece about Liverpool’s gangs recording and distributing unpleasant videos on their mobiles to apparently aid their recruitment drive. Currently chief reporter on the Echo, she was previously assistant news editor at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

The awards, now in their fourth year, have raised over £10,000 to date for the charity Weston Spirit.

Ken Bennett of the Network asked the gathering’s assembled media chiefs to join him on stage to participate in a special presentation to guest speaker Ken Dodd to celebrate his surprise award for a ‘Lifetime of Laughs’. 

The audience was itself subsequently surprised when Dodd’s speech, on whose length bets were being placed around the room, came in at just over seven minutes.

Perhaps the second happiest person on the night was libel lawyer Mark Manley of Brabners, who was delighted to note that the dozen or so participants in Ken Dodd’s tribute were all his clients…

Prizes were awarded for 13 categories.

Barrel of Laughs

Four joint winners and all from the Post/Echo
Paddy Shennan
David Charters
Martin Birchall
Stephen Shakeshaft

Student journalist of the Year
Gemma Jaleel/Ormskirk Advertiser

Newcomer of the Year
Mark Johnson/Southport Visiter

News journalist of the Year
Two winners:
Michelle Fiddler and Luke Traynor/Liverpool Echo

Feature journalist of the Year
The team from Radio City 96.7 Team
This category attracted a record number of entries

Sports journalist of the Year
Domonic King/Liverpool Echo

Broadcaster of the Year
Andy Gill/BBC North West Tonight

Photo journalist of the Year
Mark Sumner/Mercury Press Agency

Freelancer of the Year
Jason Green/Mercury Press Agency

Business journalist of the Year
Neil Tague/North West Business Insider

Scoop of the Year
Michelle Fiddler/Liverpool Echo

Designer of the Year
Damien Wiehl/North West Business Insider

Overall journalist of the Year
Michelle Fiddler/Liverpool Echo

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