'Independent' editor wins top award from 'What the Papers Say' judges for second time

Simon Kelner, editor of The Independent, was named Editor of the Year last night in the prestigious What The Papers Say awards. Mr Kelner, who is editor-in-chief of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday, was praised by the judges for the paper's coverage of the war in Iraq.

Simon Kelner, editor of The Independent, was named Editor of the Year last night in the prestigious What The Papers Say awards. Mr Kelner, who is editor-in-chief of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday, was praised by the judges for the paper's coverage of the war in Iraq.

They commended the paper's "clarity in opposing the invasion of Iraq at the beginning of the year and in correctly predicting the messy aftermath". The judges were also "impressed" by Mr Kelner's "often imaginative and arresting front-page designs".

The judges also said that above all, they "applauded his boldness in pioneering a tabloid version of his broadsheet [newspaper]". The launch of the compact paper, the judges said, was "an innovation that has boosted sales and forced Rupert Murdoch's Times to follow suit". It was the second time in five years Mr Kelner, 46, has won the award, which was presented yesterday by Michael Portillo.

The award for Scoop of the Year went to the Daily Mirror for its exposé of security failings at Buckingham Palace. Ryan Parry, a Mirror reporter, infiltrated the royal household by using fake references to secure a job as a footman. The story was published to coincide with the state visit to Britain of the US President, George Bush, and revealed, among other things, the Tupperware secrets of the Queen's breakfast table.

At the annual awards ceremony in London, the judges said: "This was easily the most audacious and eye-catching newspaper stunt of the past 12 months. In getting a job as a Buckingham Palace footman, Parry managed to expose lax royal security and entertain the rest of of us with tales of Edward's fondness for teddies, Andrew's love of colourful language and Anne's taste for black bananas."

The late Hugo Young, of The Guardian, won the Gerald Barry Award for Lifetime Achievement. His widow Lucy accepted the award and heard the judges describe him as "a massive journalistic figure who couched his ferocious intelligence and passion in the most elegant language.

"Blessed with originality of thought and the ability to make others see things differently, his voice was never more persuasive and urgent than in the final few months of his life."

The winners

Simon Kelner of The Independent was named Editor of the Year

Daily Mirror won Scoop of the Year

David Aaronovitch of The Observer and The Guardian won Columnist of the Year

Audrey Gillan of The Guardian was named Foreign Correspondent of the Year

Ally Ross of The Sun won TV Critic of the Year

Simon Barnes of The Times was Sportswriter of the Year

Richard Mills of The Times won Photographer of the Year

Mark Robinson of The Sun was Sports Photographer of the Year

Stan McMurtry known as Mac of the Daily Mail was Cartoonist of the Year