Queenstown’s Mountain Scene claimed top spot as best community newspaper at the New Zealand Community Newspapers Association Awards.
The awards, for work published in 2014, took place at the New Zealand Community Newspapers Association (NZCNA) annual conference in Queenstown, which took place on May 22 and 23.
Simon Ellis, president of the NZCNA, says, “The numbers of community papers across the country continues to grow and membership to the association had increased by 18 last year, taking it to 78 mastheads. Combined membership revenue totalled more than $53m per year, making NZCNA a powerful player in the New Zealand newspaper advertising market.”
Other awards went to the Star from Dunedin for community involvement where its Gigatown campaign saw the city to win first chance to use the fastest internet speeds in the Southern Hemisphere. The Post, circulating to the Waiuku area, received the most improved newspaper award.
The best senior journalist award went to Frank Marvin of Mountain Scene; best senior sports journalist, Daniel Silverton of the Howick and Pakuranga Times, and best senior feature writer, Rob Drent of the Devonport Flagstaff. Also from the Devonport flagstaff, Maire Vieth claimed the best junior journalist, best junior sports journalist, and best junior feature/lifestyle journalist trophies. Best newspaper photographer went to Troy Baker of the Whakatane Beacon and Bruce Barnard of the Weekend Sun received the best feature/lifestyle photographer prize. The Best Website went to The Weekend Sun.
Waiheke Island’s Gulf News won the best newspaper category up to 15,000 copies with Mountain Scene taking the more than 15,000 copies category and overall award.
The best all round lifestyle magazine went to EastLife of Auckland; best front-page newspaper went to the Bay Harbour News (up to 15,000 copies) and The News – Lakes District and Central Otago (more than 15,000 copies). Best front-page feature/lifestyle publication went to the West Coast Messenger – Building and Renovation (up to 15,000 copies) and Waikato Farming Lifestyles (more than 15,000 copies).
In the advertising categories, the sales excellence award went to Mark Sinclair of Star Media, Best Special Project went to the Whakatane Beacon. The best individual advertising portfolio awards went to Western News (up to 15,000 copies) and The Star (more than 15,000 copies). Best advertising feature/supplement was won by the Whakatane Beacon (up to 15,000 copies) and Star Media Southern Holiday destinations (more than 15,000 copies).
In the Associate Members’ category winners included: Coast & Country, best newspaper; Metropol magazine, best individual advertising portfolio, best advertising feature and best front page feature and lifestyle); Rural Living, most improved newspaper; and Coast & Country News, best front page.
