YORKSHIRE Living is the region’s best lifestyle magazine, according to judges of a prestigious awards scheme.

The magazine produced by teams based at The Northern Echo, the Telegraph and Argus and The Press, York, was named best Specialist Publication in Yorkshire and the Humber at the O2 Media Awards.

As well as being described as the best lifestyle magazine in the region, judges said Yorkshire Living was “chic, upmarket and beautifully designed with strong editorial content.”

Publisher Jenny Thompson said she was thrilled at the accolade.

“Living has a clear brand position as the society magazine for Yorkshire and The North East; delivering creative designs with first-class editorial," she said. "We know exactly what our readers want to read about and work closely with our commercial customers to deliver bespoke solutions. For this hard work to be recognised by the industry is truly fantastic.”

Editor Francine Clee paid tribute to the talented staff who had made the award possible. “They really deserve the recognition,” she said. “It is a great reward for all their hard work.”

This year’s awards were held at The Royal Armouries in Leeds and attracted an audience of 150 media professionals across print, digital and broadcast organisations. BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin hosted the event. Awards were presented by well known media representatives and members of the Yorkshire public who had featured in regional and national news stories through the year.

With almost 300 individual entries the O2 Awards are the biggest regional press awards in the country. Capita, a UK leader in business process management and outsourcing solutions, provided additional sponsorship. Judging was conducted over three separate days and the panels were made up of working editors and senior news executives from print, radio and television.

Paul James, acting director of communications and reputation at O2 UK, said the judging panel were hugely impressed by the tremendous examples of community journalism across Yorkshire and the Humber.

“The O2 awards are a celebration of all that is good about regional media," he said.

Bob Buiaroski, Capita O2 Partnership Director, said the awards were one of the most prestigious of their type in the UK.

“The fantastic work of regional journalists across Yorkshire needs to be showcased,” he added.