THE Rotherham Advertiser has been shortlisted in the O2 Media Awards

Judges have also selected free sister paper The Dearne Valley Weekender as one of three finalists for the weekly free newspaper of the year category, going up against Leeds Student Newspaper and Retford Guardian.

And reporter Dave Doyle has been short-listed for new media journalist of the year for his Sneak Peak weekly online feature.

Editor Andrew Mosley said: “Whatever people say about the future of newspapers, there is still a market for them and they play a vital part in the lives of many people, providing information that would not otherwise be available and reporting on the lives of those in communities that generally do not make the news.

“We hold people to account and report on the good things in life as well as the bad, putting local names and faces in the spotlight.

“The hard work of the people who work here has shone through and the judges have nominated us in three categories, which is tremendous news.”

There were almost 300 entries for the awards and winners will be announced at a ceremony on September 5 at Leeds Metropolitan University.