Times Media has been rewarded with a number of accolades at the New Zealand Community Newspapers awards.
Its flagship newspaper Howick and Pakuranga Times won the prestigious Community Involvement award for its long-running campaign with Howick Ratepayers and Residents Association and readers to help save the views from Stockade Hill.
“The Times’ coverage is characteristically extensive, well-written and persuasive. It’s a big chunk of money ($31,000) to raise and, as the Times quite rightly points out, not a Givealittle page in sight,” says judge Greg Treadwell.
Long-time Times photographer Wayne Martin dominated with wins in several classes, something he has done for many years in these competitions.
Jon Rawlinson was voted best senior sports journalist, a category he was featured in previously.
Magazine Rural Living won best front page (for an associate member) whilst the best all-round lifestyle magazine category saw Times Media magazine’s Eastlife and Rural Living finish as runners-up.
Times managing director and co-founder Reay Neben said she is really proud of the Times team with the “unbelievable results they achieved at last weekend’s Community Newspapers conference”.
“We won categories across the board with our photographer in one class being runner up and winner. The sales and production teams won in the classes that our advertisers participated with their advertising and the win for the community involvement was really special for our editorial team. The magazines we published did so well in all categories.
“The one thing I came away from the conference with is the growth in independently owned newspapers across the country. These papers are doing a great job and beating their opposition who now believe in digital over print. The voice of the community is strong when there is a local paper locally owned. That’s the winning formula.”
AND THE WINNER IS:
Best feature/lifestyle photographer
Winner: Wayne Martin – Rural Living
Runner up: Wayne Martin – Eastlife
Best news photographer – Class 2
Winner: Wayne Martin – Howick and Pakuranga Times
Best Senior Sports Journalist – Class 1
Runner up: Jon Rawlinson
Best front page newspaper – Class 2
Special mention: Howick and Pakuranga Times
Best front page feature/magazine – Associate
Winner: Rural Living
Best individual advertising portfolio – Class 2
Winner: Howick and Pakuranga Times
Best individual advertising portfolio – Class 1
Runner up: Botany and Ormiston Times
Best individual advertising portfolio – Associate
Winner: Eastlife
Best advertising feature or supplement – Class 2
Winner: Howick and Pakuranga Times (A name you can trust)
Best advertising feature or supplement – Associate
Runner up: Rural living
Self Promotion – Associate
Winner: Rural Living
Community Involvement – Class 2
Winner: Howick and Pakuranga Times
Most Improved Newspaper – Class 1
Special Mention: Botany and Ormiston Times
Best all round newspaper
Finalist (third place): Howick and Pakuranga Times
Best all round lifestyle magazine
Runner up: Eastlife and Rural Living
