Asian Image was named Community Publication of the Year at this year's O2 Media Awards.

The publication was honoured alongside a range of TV, radio and print media at the event held at the Etihad Stadioum last night.

On presenting the award to Asian Image judges noted how the publication raises uncomfortable issues and praised the newspaper's community focus.

Shuiab Khan Editor of Asian Image said, "It was good to be recognised at these awards amongst members of the mainstream media.

"Thanks go to our columnists and contributors who do not shy away from highlighting injustices affecting all communities and to those who have supported the newspaper."

Broadcasts and articles focussing on the Manchester Arena terrorist featured heavily on this year's shortlist.

Asian Image:

The Manchester Evening News was named Best Editorial Print Team and also won the On-Line Journalism award for its coverage of the May 22 suicide bombing, in which 22 people were killed and hundreds more injured.

The MEN also received the Best Daily Newspaper award from blast survivor Martin Hibbert, who was paralysed by Salman Abedi’s nail bomb.

BBC Radio Manchester won Best Broadcast Team and the O2 award for the Most Memorable Broadcast Programme, for its reporting on the night of the terror attack.

Other multiple winners were journalists at ITV Granada Reports and BBC North West Tonight.

Granada’s Elaine Willcox was judged Best Broadcast News Reporter, while BBC’s Clare Fallon was named TV Journalist of the Year.

Both BBC and ITV news teams were jointly honoured in the Best News Programme category. They were presented with their awards by Paddy Ennis, the first paramedic inside the Arena after the bomb went off.

In other categories there were awards for writers and photographers on the Liverpool Echo, while local TV station, That’s Lancashire, won the Young Broadcast Journalist through Elizabeth Baines and Moving Images with cameraman Jake Harvey.

A special O2 Journalism Award was presented to Jennifer Williams of the Manchester Evening News for her exclusive investigation into the use of the drug Spice in Manchester city centre.

An O2 Stand Out award went to ex-footballer turned football commentator, Ian St. John, to mark his 38 years in the broadcast industry. England World Cup winner Roger Hunt, who played alongside St. John at Liverpool, made a surprise appearance to present the award.

Nicola Green, Director of Corporate Affairs at O2 said: “This was an unprecedented year of news events across the North West. The awards demonstrate the importance and value of the regional media in our communities.

“We were honoured to host some of the families and victims of the Manchester Arena attack and humbled to hear the stories of community champions who make such a difference to the lives of others.”