Entries are open for the 2016 PANPA Newspaper of the Year awards, recognising excellence in newsmedia publishing in print and online, photography, environmental initiatives and production.

Last year's awards attracted more than 700 entries from the region. They are open to national, metropolitan, regional, rural and community news media brands in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Asia.

There are six categories - for Newspaper of the Year, Digital Destinations of the Year, photography and technical excellence, as well as the Hegarty Scholarship for young news media executives, and the environment award.

Organisers NewsMediaWorks say the awards will place emphasis on the quality of journalism, cross platform execution, design and the ability to engage audiences across multiple platforms. Audience scale is determined by the group's emma (Enhanced Media Metrics Australia) data.

Entries will close on July 8 and finalists will be announced on August 5, with awards presented at a gala dinner on September 2 at the conclusion of the NewsMediaWorks' annual Future Forum news media conference at The Ivy in Sydney.

"Our news media brands are among the best in the world," NewsMediaWorks chief executive Mark Hollands says. "Our industry creates innovative print and digital solutions that engage our audiences, deliver results for advertisers and grow revenue and these awards recognise commercial, editorial and technical excellence.

"The PANPAs continue to be the pre-eminent awards in the region's news media industry."

The concurrent PANPA Advertising & Marketing Awards will be announced at The Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney on September 1.

Further information about the Newspaper of the Year awards and entry criteria can be found at: http://www.newsmediaworks.com.au/awards/