The Courier has been crowned Scottish Newsbrand of the Year at the 2026 Scottish Press Awards, recognising its outstanding journalism, innovation and impact across communities in Scotland.
The prestigious award – one of the highest honours in Scottish journalism – was announced at last night’s ceremony in Glasgow, celebrating excellence across national, regional and digital news publishing.
Awarded at the discretion of the judges and without a shortlist, Scottish Newsbrand of the Year recognises sustained excellence in storytelling, audience engagement and public service journalism.
A standout night for The Courier
The Courier’s top honour capped a highly successful evening for the title, with its journalism and talent recognised across multiple categories, including:
The results highlight the breadth of The Courier’s journalism – from major investigations and breaking news to standout multimedia storytelling.
Success across the wider portfolio
The Courier’s sister titles also enjoyed significant success on the night.
The Press and Journal / Evening Express secured major recognition, including:
Lindsay Bruce’s award-winning work, alongside the impactful Trapped by RAAC campaign, highlighted the title’s commitment to public interest journalism – driving awareness and scrutiny around a major issue affecting communities across the north and the north-east of Scotland.
David Clegg, Editor of The Courier, said:
“To be named Scottish Newsbrand of the Year is a tremendous honour and a proud moment for everyone at The Courier. This award recognises the dedication, creativity and integrity of our journalists, who work tirelessly to deliver impactful, trusted reporting for our readers every day.
“We are privileged to serve our communities and to tell the stories that matter most to them. To see that work recognised so strongly across the awards is a fantastic achievement for the entire team.”
Craig Walker, Editor of The Press and Journal and the Evening Express, said:
“It was a strong night for The Press and Journal and Evening Express, and a great recognition of the strength of journalism we’re delivering for communities across the north and north-east.
“Lindsay Bruce’s Nicola Barry Award win is richly deserved – she continues to produce journalism of real depth and impact. Our Trapped by RAAC campaign has been a clear example of the vital role regional newsbrands play in holding power to account and driving change on issues affecting people’s lives. It’s particularly pleasing to see that work recognised alongside success across the wider portfolio.”
Tom Miller, who oversees our Local portfolio including The Scots Magazine at DC Thomson, said:
“This recognition is a reflection of the strength, ambition and collaboration across our newsrooms at The Courier, The Press and Journal and The Sunday Post. Over the past year, our teams have focused on producing journalism that makes a difference – holding power to account, championing our communities and delivering high-quality coverage across every platform.
“To see colleagues recognised across so many categories, and to celebrate success right across our titles, is something we’re incredibly proud of. It speaks to the depth of talent across DC Thomson and the impact our journalism is making for audiences across Scotland.”
Industry recognition
The Scottish Press Awards, organised by Newsbrands Scotland, celebrate the very best in journalism across Scotland, with winners selected by an expert judging panel.
Winning Scottish Newsbrand of the Year, alongside multiple category wins and wider success across its sister titles, firmly positions The Courier at the forefront of Scottish journalism – combining editorial excellence with innovation in a rapidly evolving media landscape.