NEWSQUEST, the parent company of the Free Press has been shortlisted for a top UK web award.

The UK media group has been nominated alongside the Economist and Financial Times for one of the key awards at the 2016 Online Media Awards.

The nomination in the Best Use of Data for Commercial Gain category is for Newsquest’s range of advertising products that have significantly improved the company’s online display campaigns for its local SME advertisers.

Newsquest Digital Director Mark Smith said: “Our Ad Product development team have put a lot of time, thought and effort into what they’ve produced for our local sales team so it’s particularly gratifying to be recognized on a shortlist of three alongside major global brands like The Economist and the FT”.

Newsquest’s Digital Display Director, Simon Sarahs, said “By putting our clients’ needs at the heart of everything we do we’ve been able to develop a credible digital product proposition for our local advertisers – ensuring their ads are being served to the right people, at the right time, and in the right environment.”

Having already won Most Innovative Digital Publisher of the Year at the Drum’s Digital Trading Awards in May, the shortlisting reflects the continued effort to drive digital innovation throughout the Newsquest business.

David McMurtrie, Google’s Head of Publishers, UK and Ireland, said: “Newsquest’s use of Google products from both a technical and strategic perspective has seen them drive revenue and efficiency across their portfolio.”

The eventual winners will be announced at the Drum’s Online Media Awards on June 7 in London.