Camden New Journal

North London-based Camden New Journal is a “great example of a weekly title doing what it does best: campaigning journalism; finding the unusual off-diary stories in their beats and bringing communities together”, according to Regional Press Awards judges. 

From being the first to get the 2024 General Election results for its area – including the Prime Minister's patch – into print, to an investigation into the policy decision behind homeless people's tents and belongings being thrown away in council-ordered bin lorries, and the first ever interview with the family of one of serial killer Denis Nilsen’s victims, the news team “clearly matches consistent local reporting with creativity and great dexterity”, judges said.

A series of special projects featured prominently over the past year, including partnering with Adobe to celebrate women's football and giving a guest editor role to Sam Taylor Wood, alongside launching a politics-focused YouTube channel. Meanwhile, lighter stories about Primrose Hill residents getting fed up with Paddington film promotions in their area and an interview with the kebab shop owner who Taylor Swift ordered from, helped demonstrate CNJ’s “consistent journalistic impact across all areas of editorial coverage”.

Judges were particularly impressed with the team organising and hosting its own climate change conference and commented that “this is a newsroom tackling themes much larger ones shy away from”.