Thanks to his Killing Edgar podcast, which explored the IRA's assassination of Edgar Graham, the lost leader of unionism, Mr. McBride won the category.

Additionally, he was selected Highly Commended in the Energy & Environment Journalism category for his reporting and journalism on the environmental issue at Lough Neagh.

"Sam is a proper journalistic pain in the ass for those in power," the judges said after he won.

Strong, gripping tales that have been painstakingly researched and are delivered with style and authority.

It is the most recent accolade victory for Sunday Life and the Belfast Telegraph in the past 12 months. At the Society of Editors' Media Freedom Awards in November, the Belfast Telegraph was recognised as the UK Regional News Media Organisation.

Additionally, Mr. McBride was nominated for both Investigation of the Year and Regional Journalist of the Year, and his Uncovered newsletter was nominated for Innovation.

The Belfast Telegraph's Kirsten Elder was the lone regional nominee in the photojournalism category; Simon Townsley of The Telegraph took first place. At the annual Newspaper Awards in London in March, the Belfast Telegraph's Weekend magazine won the title of regional supplement of the year.