Glasgow Times honoured at prestigious Scottish Press Awards

Our reporter Jack Aitchison fought off some stiff competition to be named Young Journalist of the Year at Wednesday’s Scottish Press Awards while the Give Our OAPs a Shot series was chosen as Local/Weekly Campaign of the Year. 

Led by reporter Maxine McArthur, the campaign saw us fight to ensure those most at risk were prioritised amid last year’s botched roll out of a new flu jab system within the city’s health board. 

Maxine McArthur who led our winning campaign

Elsewhere, chief reporter Catriona Stewart was named as runner-up in the coveted Nicola Barry Award, which champions female journalism, while the Glasgow Times was also a finalist in a number of other hotly contested categories. 

Cat Stewart was named runner-up in the Nicola Barry Award

This included Best Coverage at a Live Event for our work on the ground during last year’s horrific Park Inn stabbing. First on the scene, our team then worked tirelessly throughout the day and night to bring you eyewitness accounts and detailed opinion. 

We also made it into the final five for our News Website, which enjoyed its most successful year yet. 

Multimedia reporter Jack Haugh narrowly missed out on the Local/Weekly Feature Writer of the Year – the second in-a-row he has been nominated – while Graeme McGarry also made it into the final five of the Sports Columnist of the Year. 

Having been praised by the judges for his exclusive investigations, including revelations that dozens of Glaswegians were flouting lockdown rules at the height of the pandemic to meet up with strangers for sex, Jack Aitchison said: "I’m so humbled to have picked up the award last night among such tough competition. 

“Strong local journalism has never mattered more than it does now, and I'm proud of the impact my stories have had. 

“It’s a privilege to be a journalist and I’ll be forever grateful to my colleagues, mentors, contacts and family for their continued support.”

Maxine said: "I am truly humbled to pick up this award on behalf of our brilliant team. 

"The success of our campaign made a difference to so many of the most vulnerable in the city and proved just how important quality local journalism is." 

Stacey Mullen, Glasgow Times assistant editor, said: “The Glasgow Times team did exceptional to achieve so many nominations at this year’s awards and to win in such prestigious categories is even better. 

“Our achievements at the ceremony is testament to the fact that we continue to deliver local news that matters to the people of Glasgow. 

“A big well done to every member of our team.” 

The annual Scottish Press Awards are hosted by the Scottish Newspaper Society. This year’s ceremony was presented by broadcasting legend Jackie Bird.