Entries are now open for the 2008 Regional Press Awards.

The entry fee for the awards has been cut this year from £69 to £39 to enable more journalist to enter and new categories have been launched to reflect the growing importance of online journalism.

The deadline for entries is Friday 18 April.

The new award categories are for multimedia journalist of the year, multimedia publisher, scoop of the year, best front page and business and finance journalist of the year.

A panel of 60 senior journalists will judge the awards - which are again being chaired by former Northern Echo editor Peter Sands, who is director of Press Association Training.

The winners will be announced at the Royal Lancaster Hotel on Friday, 13 June.