The Cambrian News is among the finalists for a prestigious media award for the third successive year, with the hope of winning back the title it won in 2023.
Our Welsh publication has been named as a finalist for the Newspaper of the Year accolade at the Journalists’ Charity’s Wales Media Awards 2025, with journalist Debbie Luxon in the running for News Writer of the Year.
In 2023, the Cambrian News beat rivals from across the nation to win the Newspaper of the Year accolade but missed out on retaining the title when it was again named as a finalist 12 months later.
The awards are staged each year by the organisers to recognise “individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and contribution to journalism in Wales in either English or Welsh”, honouring excellence in print, online and broadcast journalism.
Gala dinner
An experienced team of senior journalists from Wales and around the UK judged the entries. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner to be held at Cardiff’s Parkgate Hotel on January 16, with around 200 guests including industry leaders, editors, journalists, students, sponsors and stakeholders from around Wales and the UK, expected to attend the ceremony.
Editor Mick O’Reilly said: “To be shortlisted three years’ running is a considerable achievement for the news team at Cambrian News. It speaks to our consistency in being the best that we can be each week and it also reflects our huge influence online.
“We won’t be intimidated by any authority or anyone and we are fearless in our reporting of local news and putting it into the context of Wales itself. We’ll ask the questions others won’t and we report without fear or favour.
“The nomination of Reporter Debbie Luxon in the News Writer of the Year category shows that the team at the Cambrian News can and do punch with the heavyweights of Welsh journalism.
Special report
“Debbie’s investigation into homelessness across mid and west Wales was spurred on by the tragic discovery of a body in Aberystwyth harbour in June 2024.
“Debbie spent six weeks investigating the life and death of Carol Kovacs, 59, a Romanian national who had been living rough on a local beach before his death.
“Her ‘End of the Line’ special report revealed the extent of homelessness across the region, how social and emergency services were unable to cope with the numbers of those living without a roof over their heads, and the pain, discrimination and turmoil faced by those living on the streets.
“It’s a remarkable piece of reportage that is rare in newspapers these days. I am proud that 100 per cent of the content in Cambrian News is produced within Wales.”
Established in 1860, the Cambrian News informs communities in Ceredigion, Powys, Gwynedd, north Carmarthenshire and north Pembrokeshire through its website, social media accounts and weekly print edition.