THE story of the cremated remains of babies being disposed of at Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh, without the knowledge of their parents, has helped earn its reporter, Gina Davidson, the title, Journalist of the Year, at this year’s Scottish Press Awards. Taking the Newspaper of the Year accolade, meanwhile, was The Sunday Post.
Davidson – an associate editor at the Edinburgh Evening News – also took the Scoop of the Year title, with her paper earning the Team of the Year prize for the story, which has earned national prominence, raising question marks about the practice at other crematoria in Scotland.
Only two days ago, Public health minister, Michael Matheson, announced an independent commission to investigate the scandal.
Davidson is pictured (left) with Tim Blott, president of the awards’ organisers, the Scottish Newspaper Society.
Said the judges: “We were also impressed Gina Davidson’s work to break the Mortonhall ashes story and felt it worthy of recognition as an excellent example of investigative journalism in Scotland.”
The judges said of The Sunday Post being named Newspaper of the Year: “The standard of this year’s entries has been particularly high and, as judges, we’ve had to make some difficult decisions.
“However, we felt The Sunday Post, in particular, should be recognised for courageous decisions that have transformed one of Scotland’s best-loved and strongest brands, while maintaining its position in the Scottish media landscape.”
And coincidentally, the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Campbell Gunn, who has recently retired after 43 years at The Sunday Post, the last 14 as political editor.
The Sunday Post editor, Donald Martin, is standing, left, in the main picture, along with Gunn.
The special guest was Dame Elish Angiolini, former Lord Advocate of Scotland.
Pics: Lewis Houghton.
The winners’ list reads:
Sports Photographer of the Year
Winner: Ian MacNicol The Scotsman and Metro Scottish edition
Runner-up: Ian Rutherford The Scotsman Publications Ltd
Nominated: William Murray SNS Group
Nicky Ponty Herald & Times
Kenny Ramsay The Scottish Sun
News Photographer of the Year
Winner: Ian Rutherford The Scotsman
Runner-up: Roddy Scott The Scottish Sun
Nominated: Gordon Jack The Scotsman and Daily Record
Jeff Mitchell Getty Images
Gordon Terris The Herald
Cartoonist of the Year
Winner: Steven Camley The Herald
Runner-up: Brian Adcock Scotland on Sunday
Nominated: Scott Clissold Scottish Sunday Express
Pete Davidson The Sunday Post
Brian Petrie The Scottish Sun
Young Journalist of the Year
Winner: Niamh Anderson The Scottish Sun
Runner-up: Alasdair Gill Dundee Evening Telegraph
Nominated: Paul John Coulter Greenock Telegraph
Paris Gourtsoyannis Holyrood Magazine
Euan McLelland Daily Record
Weekly Newspaper of the Year
Winner: The Falkirk Herald
Runner-up: The Inverness Courier
Nominated: Ayrshire Post
Hamilton Advertiser
Highland News
Arts/Entertainment Journalist of the Year
Winner: Phil Miller The Herald
Runner-up: David Robinson The Scotsman
Nominated: Brian Beacom The Herald
Matt Bendoris The Scottish Sun
Alison Howard The Herald/Sunday Herald
Aidan Smith Scotland on Sunday
Magazine Writer of the Year
Winner: Billy Briggs The Herald Magazine
Runner-up: David Robinson The Scotsman
Nominated: Teddy Jamieson The Herald/Sunday Herald
Chitra Ramaswamy The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday
Peter Ross Scotland on Sunday
Alison Rowat The Herald
Political Journalist of the Year
Winner: Mark Aitken Sunday Mail
Runner-up: David Clegg Daily Record
Nominated: Paul Hutcheon Sunday Herald
Iain MacWhirter Sunday Herald
Alan Roden Scottish Daily Mail
Columnist of the Year
Winner: Bill Leckie The Scottish Sun
Runner-up: Ian Bell Sunday Herald
Nominated: Erikka Askeland The Scotsman
Tam Cowan Daily Record
Iain Macwhirter Sunday Herald
Financial/Business Journalist of the Year
Winner: Ian McConnell The Herald
Runner-up: Colin Donald Sunday Herald
Nominated: Simon Bain The Herald
Scott Mcculloch Business7
Tim Sharp The Herald
Newspaper Feature Writer of the Year
Winner: Dani Garavelli The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday
Runner-up: Peter Ross Scotland on Sunday
Nominated: Matt Bendoris The Scottish Sun
Helen Brown The Courier
Chitra Ramaswamy The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday
Sports Feature Writer of the Year
Winner: Aidan Smith The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday
Runner-up: Tom English The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday
Nominated: Michael Grant The Herald
Robert Grieve The Scottish Sun
Bill Leckie The Scottish Sun
Sports News Writer of the Year
Winner: Keith Jackson Daily Record
Runner-up: John McGarry Scottish Daily Mail
Nominated: Robert Grieve The Scottish Sun
Ronnie MacKay The Scottish Sun
Derek McGregor The Scottish Sun
Front Page of the Year
Winner: The Scottish Sun Day that the taxman finally buried Rangers
Runner-up: Evening Express Dear Barney
Nominated: Daily Record BYE BYE LIAR
Edinburgh Evening News REVENGE OF THE TRAMS
The Scotsman BEST OF THE BEST
Sunday Herald The gold rush
Journalism Team of the Year
Winner: Edinburgh Evening News Mortonhall Ashes Scandal
Runner-up: The Scottish Sun Gers in Crisis
Nominated: Daily Record Rangers in Crisis
Edinburgh Evening News Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in Crisis
The Courier Drowning in Drugs Investigation
Campaign of the Year
Winner: Dumfries & Galloway Standard A75 – Time to Act
Runner-up: Evening Telegraph Dundee Born and Read
Nominated: Evening Times Clear the Air
The Scottish Sun Ban Beggs Blood Money
The Sunday Post Churchcastle
Scoop of the Year
Winner: Gina Davidson Edinburgh Evening News
Runner-up: Keith Jackson Daily Record
Nominated: Dani Garavelli Scotland on Sunday
Paul Hutcheon Sunday Herald
Allan Rennie/Chris Musson Daily Record
Reporter of the Year
Winner: David Pratt The Herald/Sunday Herald
Runner-up: Gail Cameron The Scottish Sun
Nominated: Ryan Crighton The Press and Journal
Charles Gall Daily Record
Marion Scott Sunday Mail
