'Independent' is Newspaper of the Year - again

The Independent was named Newspaper of the Year for the second time yesterday at the What The Papers Say Awards in recognition of its "constant and brave" editorial stance.

The Independent was named Newspaper of the Year for the second time yesterday at the What The Papers Say Awards in recognition of its "constant and brave" editorial stance.

The judges also praised The Independent for its groundbreaking switch to a compact format, which they described as "technically brilliant" and agreed that the newspaper's strategy of bold front pages had "genuinely changed the face of publishing".

Robin Cook presented the award at the Café Royal in London, in a ceremony hosted by the political journalist Andrew Rawnsley.

"I am delighted that we have won the top honour in the What The Papers Say Awards for the second year in succession," said Simon Kelner, the editor-in-chief of The Independent. "I am particularly pleased that the power and consistency of our content, and the impact of our front pages, was recognised by the judges."

The award is the latest in a string of accolades since The Independent pioneered the compact format in September 2003, including National Newspaper of the Year at the British Press Awards and Daily Newspaper of the Year at the London Press Club Awards.

Trevor Kavanagh, political editor of The Sun, won Scoop of the Year for his story giving leaked details of Lord Hutton's report into the death of Dr David Kelly. The Daily Mail writer Anne Leslie was named Foreign Correspondent of the Year. The cartoonist behind the Sunday Telegraph's "Trog" column, Wally Fawkes, won a lifetime achievement award after 60 years in the business.

The Daily Telegraph's Matt won Cartoonist of the Year, while Matthew Parris of The Times won Writer of the Year.

The 'What the Papers Say Review' 2004 is on BBC2 today at 5.10pm