The Manchester Evening News has secured a prestigious journalism award at the Association of Online Publishers (AOP) Digital Publishing Awards. The M.E.N. was named editorial team of the year during the ceremony held on Thursday night in London, surpassing competitors such as The Daily Telegraph and GB News.
A Significant Industry Recognition
The award is highly regarded within the industry. Judges praised the M.E.N. for its 'clear focus on high-quality journalism'. Reporter James Holt was also shortlisted for the AOP award for Inspiring Local Journalism. The winning citation from the judges stated: "The Manchester Evening News demonstrated clear focus on high-quality journalism. Growth across channels showed how local journalism done brilliantly really resonates with audiences."
A Legacy of Trust and Innovation
From the Victorian era to the modern digital age, the M.E.N. has been a trusted voice for Manchester for 150 years. In January 2026, the publication reached over 11 million readers, including approximately half of all Greater Manchester residents. This performance underscores the M.E.N.'s position as the UK's leading regional news brand and reflects a growing demand for original journalism.
The award follows a strategic push over the past year to revolutionise features and investigations, expand social media audiences, and launch a premium subscription product. The M.E.N. continues to innovate and remain relevant to its target readers.
Impactful Journalism and Community Engagement
Rob Williams, Features and Perspectives Editor at the M.E.N., highlighted the publication's commitment to impactful journalism: "Our journalism exposes wrongdoing and drives change, and we want it to be read by as many people as possible. We have revealed a prominent YouTuber's sordid past, exposed fake shops and dark suicide websites, reported on a far-right group celebrating Hitler’s birthday, and uncovered a paedophile living beside a playground."
When terrorism struck, the M.E.N. broke news of the synagogue attack in Crumpsall on Yom Kippur, reporting from within the Jewish community while countering misinformation and helping maintain calm. This focus on high-quality coverage led to the launch of a premium product in November 2025, which has since attracted thousands of paying subscribers in an environment where news was widely considered free.
Awards Ceremony Highlights
The 24th AOP Awards, hosted by comedian Aurie Styla at Old Billingsgate in London, celebrated individuals, teams, and companies driving growth and innovation in digital publishing. Richard Reeves, Managing Director of the AOP, commented: "The 2026 AOP Awards highlighted the resilience of our industry and our ability to harness the challenges we face to spark extraordinary innovation. The variety of winners and highly commended entries is something to be proud of, and I'm thrilled we continue to be able to celebrate the people, teams and businesses powering our industry."
