Video to thrill media stars of 2017 event

The venue for this year's event is The Kingsmill Hotel in Inverness.

For the first time, the Highlands and Islands Media Awards will be captured on video with highlights shown on the internet and on social media.

The coverage of the 2017 event will include filming some of the 12 award categories, interviews with leading award winners and footage of winning entries.

The media awards - which open for entries today (Friday) are held as part of the annual Highlands and Islands Press Ball, the premier event in the industry’s calendar, which will be held at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness, on Friday 3 February 2017.

Organisers, Inverness-based System2, will be capturing the prestigious event which will be attended by around 280 journalists and PR managers from across the Highlands and Islands, as well as leaders of public and private sector companies and politicians.

It is the only event that brings together under one roof all sections of the media in the widely-dispersed region.

This includes local, community, regional and national newspapers; local and national radio and television broadcasters and online media outlets.

The awards recognise excellence in journalism across all sectors of the media, including Gaelic medium, and help promote good practice and raise standards in the industry.

John Ross, chairman of the Highlands and Islands Press Ball and head of media content at System2, said: “Filming part of the awards ceremony will add a new dimension to this much anticipated occasion.

“System2 is constantly bringing innovative thinking to the press ball and media awards and this latest move should make it an even more exciting event.”

The Kingsmills Hotel has landed a major scoop by becoming the 2017 home of the event.

Craig Ewan, general manager of the Kingsmills Hotel, said: “The Highlands and Islands Press Ball and Media Awards is an illustrious occasion and we are delighted to be working with System2 to create a memorable evening.”

Each year the event raises money for local charities and has contributed in the region of £90,000 to good causes across the Highlands and Islands.

This year four organisations – Youth Highland, Inverness Womens’ Aid, Highland Hospice and the Highland Foodbank – each received £850.