A BirminghamLive writer has been named the Regional Journalist of the Year 2026 by a panel of judges in recognition of her work entertaining and championing brilliant Brummies across the region.
Features writer Kirsty Bosley, 38, took home the prize at the Celebrating Brilliant Journalism awards, a special celebration held in Digbeth on Thursday, April 30 hosted by BBC stalwart Clive Myrie.
What is more, it was the second time BirminghamLive journalists have won this prize after People and Politics Editor Jane Haynes won in 2025.
Reporters and editors for a number of Reach PLC publications joined together for the evening, including delegates from the Mirror, the Daily Star, the Express, WalesOnline and a number of prestigious local newspapers.
The Regional Journalist prize was contested by the Liverpool Echo's political editor Liam Thorp, Wales Online senior reporter Lucy John, Wales Online's investigations editor Conor Gogarty, Essex Live senior journalist Matt Lee and Plymouth Live's crime reporter Carl Eve.
But Kirsty took home the gong on the night, with judges highlighting stories such as her reflection on a three-hour queue for cakes at a Black Country bakery, her interview with Sharon Osbourne ahead of Ozzy's final performance and a visit to the plague village at Eyam in their comments.
Kirsty, originally from West Bromwich, studied for her journalism degree in Staffordshire and she has written for a number of regional and national newspapers since qualifying in 2009, with Birmingham at the heart of her most significant stories.
Birmingham Mail editor Graeme Brown said: "It is great to see the judges realised what we in Birmingham already know - that Kirsty is a unique talent. Her stories are read by hundreds of thousands of people but she writes them in such a way she makes an impact on every single one of them. This is a well-deserved award for a journalist who does more than write about Birmingham - she actively cares about the city and our readers."
As well as the Regional Journalist of the Year prize, Kirsty collected the Live Event award on behalf of the newsroom for its coverage of Ozzy Osbourne's final performance at Villa Park Stadium and the subsequent reporting on the star's death.
Meanwhile, BirminghamLive agenda editor Stephanie Balloo was shortlisted in the Longform Writer category for her work highlighting the city's knife crime issue, a campaign which resulted in real change for the city.
Our snapper Nick Wilkinson was shortlisted for the Photographer of the Year prize for his tireless work documenting the city in pictures throughout the year.
The Birmingham Mail's print team was shortlisted for the Headline Of The Year prize for 'You're Nicked Sunny', a story about the arrest of a man who admitted trying to smuggle 72 gun parts to the UK in a 1976 Datsun Sunny.
Speaking of the event, Kirsty Bosley said: "It is a joy to be considered for such a prize among some of the very best journalists in Britain, who all work so hard to make changes for the better on their patches. As a working class writer in a city with as many challenges as ours has faced - and continues to face - my commitment to serving our community and supporting my colleagues who make very real changes in our region every day has been strengthened by this acknowledgment. Regional journalism has never been so important as we continue to hold power to account and fight for those in Birmingham who need help getting their voices heard. I'm grateful to the judges for recognising my work and to my readers for every second they spend with me in our newspaper and on our website."
