A DORSET Echo journalist has been nominated for a prestigious award.

Chief Reporter Samantha Harman has been shortlisted for Young Journalist of the Year at the Society of Editors Regional Press Awards.

The prizes will be handed out at a ceremony at the Lancaster London Hotel on Friday, May 16.

The awards celebrate the best in British regional newspaper journalism for 2013 in print, online and any other news platform.

Also nominated is the Echo's sister paper the Bournemouth Daily Echo which has been shortlisted for Daily Newspaper of the Year.

Toby Granville, group editor of the Dorset Echo and Daily Echo, said: “I am delighted that Samantha Harman has been recognised for her superb journalistic efforts.

“It's a great accolade that the industry has recognised that she is an extremely talented journalist with huge potential.”