Reporter with the Orcadian, Lorraine Shearer, is the Highlands and Islands Journalist of the Year.

Lorraine received her £500 prize from Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell at the Highlands and Islands Press Ball, which was held at the Newton Hotel, Nairn, on Friday night.

Lorraine, who was born and brought up in Stronsay, has worked for the Orcadian for nine years.

She is a previous Feature Writer of the Year and in this year's awards was highly commended in the Feature category as well as highly commended in the Local Newspaper Reporter of the Year category.

The First Minister also presented the Barron Trophy, to Pauline Taylor, editor of the Northern Scot, Elgin, for lifetime achievement to journalism as well as the following category winners:-

Young Journalist of the Year:  Kennedy Stewart, Shetland Post; Sports Writer of the Year: Chris Saunderson, Northern Scot; Local Newspaper Photographer of the Year, Eric Cormack, Northern Scot; Photographer of the Year, John Paul, Inverness; Local Newspaper Reporter of the Year, Val Sweeney, Inverness Courier; Reporter of the Year, Corrina Thomson, John O'Groat Journal; Feature Writer of the Year, Bruce Sandison, Tongue; Community Newspaper of the Year, Fios, Ness, Lewis and Newspaper of the Year, Northern Scot.

The awards are sponsored by Diageo, the world's premium drinks company.

The Press Ball, which has raised £30,000 for charities across the Highlands and  Islands over the last 14 years, raised an estimated £3,600 on Friday.

This will be divided equally among four organisations - the Highland Hospice;  the Highland News Heartbeat appeal, the Crocus Child Bereavement Group and the Maggie's Centre Highland Appeal.