Weekday and weekend of News Corp's national daily The Australian - plus its mobile website - won this year's top 'newspaper of the year' awards in Sydney tonight.

The awards, which recognise excellence in newsmedia publishing in print and online, photography, environmental initiatives and production, were announced at a gala dinner following the Inform Newsmedia Summit event at Sydney's new International Convention Centre.

More than 300 people attended the ceremony, hosted by The Chaser's Craig Reucassel and Andrew Hansen. Organisers say the 'PANPAs' attracted more entries than previous years, coming from publishers Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and Asia.

This year's winner of the Hegarty Award scholarship, for management development is Emily Sweet from Fairfax media's Australian Community Media.

NewsMediaWorks chief executive Peter Miller congratulated winners, acknowledging the "incredibly high standard": "Our news media brands can stand tall as among the best in the world and this year's award winners again showed outstanding excellence in each category."

DAILY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

National/Metropolitan

The Australian, News Corp Australia

Regional

Newcastle Herald, Fairfax Media

Community

The Gympie Times, News Corp Australia

WEEKEND NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

The Weekend Australian, News Corp Australia

DIGITAL NEWS SITE OF THE YEAR

National / Metropolitan

Australian Financial Review, Fairfax Media

Regional

Newcastle Herald, Fairfax Media

Community

The Maitland Mercury, Fairfax Media

NON- DAILY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

Community

The City, News Corp Australia

Regional

Queensland Country Life, Fairfax Media

PHOTOGRAPHY

PORTRAIT

Community

Of The Sea, Wesley Monts, Herbert River Express, News Corp Australia

Regional

Snake Boy, Glenn Hampson, Gold Coast Bulletin, News Corp Australia

National / Metropolitan - TIE

Dogs and Dust, Rohan Kelly, The Sunday Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Wild Side, Rohan Thomson, The Canberra Times, Fairfax Media

FEATURES AND LIFESTYLE

Community

Fire Breathing Spider, Andrew Ritchie, Western Suburbs Weekly, Community News Group

Regional

Nice for a dip, Brendan Radke, Cairns Post, News Corp Australia

National / Metropolitan

Lionheart Leo, Sam Ruttyn, The Sunday Telegraph, News Corp Australia

SPORT

Community

Ray Karaitiana, Marta Juanola, Mandurah Mail, Fairfax Media

Regional

Para-swimmer, Stephen Parker, Rotorua Daily Post, NZME

National / Metropolitan

Up the Mast, John Feder, The Australian, News Corp Australia

NEWS

Community

May the Fourth Be with You, Isabella Lettini, Parramatta Sun, Fairfax Media

Regional

Festival Aftermath, Justin Kennedy, NT News, News Corp Australia

National / Metropolitan

Philippine Drug Wars, Kate Geraghty, The Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax Media

ENVIRONMENT

Wasp Wipeout, Nelson Mail, Fairfax Media

TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE

SINGLE-WIDTH

Community

Sharp Daily, Taiwan - Apple Daily Publication Development Limited, Taiwan Branch

Regional

Apple Daily, Taiwan - Apple Daily Publication Development Limited, Taiwan Branch

National / Metropolitan

Apple Daily Hong Kong - Apple Daily Printing Limited

DOUBLE-WIDTH

Community

The Yass Tribune, Canberra Print Centre, Fairfax Media

Regional

The Land, North Richmond Print Centre, Fairfax Media

National / Metropolitan

The Australian, Chullora Print Centre, News Corp Australia

PRE-PRINT OR SUPPLEMENT

Off the Leash, Darwin Print Centre, News Corp Australia

PRINT CENTRE OF THE YEAR

Canberra Print Centre, Fairfax Media

HEGARTY SCHOLARSHIP

Emily Sweet, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media

DIGITAL

Best Mobile Site (Open)

The Australian, News Corp Australia

Best Niche / Specialty App or Microsite (Open)

China's Operation Australia, theage.com.au, Fairfax Media

Digital Publishing Innovation of the Year (Open)

Private Business, Public Failure, Stuff Circuit, stuff.co.nz, Fairfax Media