Alison Gow

Alison Gow has worked in journalism for more than 30 years and is a former newspaper and website editor for Wales on Sunday, Wales Online and the Daily Post. Widely known for her work in the development and implementation of digital journalism innovations with Reach plc, where she held various roles including Innovations Editor and Audience and Content Director, Audio and Video, she was also Publisher of the award-winning Laudable Podcasts.

A former board member and President of the Society of Editors, she was awarded a Fellowship of the SoE earlier this month, for her contribution to the society, press freedom and in recognition of her work with young journalists and the regional industry. Alison is a media consultant and editorial leadership coach who holds board positions with Women in Journalism, the Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme at UCLan and the Public Interest News Foundation.

Don't leave your entries until the last minute - a rushed entry won't do you justice, so give yourself a deadline, ahead of the actual deadline, and stick to it.

What do these awards mean to you?

The chance to celebrate another year of making a real difference to communities through journalism

What are you most looking forward to as a chair of judges this year?

I love going through the nominations and seeing the quality and depth of regional journalism.