QCPA 2025 Media Excellence Awards
January 09, 2025 | QCPA Awards
Held 30th May 2025 | Royal on the Park, Brisbane City
The QCPA annual conference and award night was an outstanding success with a number of attendees claiming it was the best one ever.
Our theme for this year's event being, "Trusted journalism in a digital era" was also reflected in the novel cap, that was handed to those who attended, where printed on the front, were the words "TRUST me I'm a JOURNALIST".
Over 115 delegates attended the dinner, where results from 354 entries, received across 19 various Advertising, Editorial, Photographic & Publication award categories, were announced.
Congratulations to all those publications and individuals who were successful in their 1st, 2nd & 3rd placings.
2025 Award Winners
Best One-Off ROP or Regular Print Commercial Feature
Judge: Rob Duffield
Overall Judges Comments
A strong contingent of entries with notably less individual Queensland Country Press Newspapers entering into to this category this year. There were two or three outstanding entries which stood higher than the rest when it came to creativity and initiative. Overall though, it was a good quality collection of client centric ideas/ entries. It was noted that women in business and buying local themes a lot of newspapers are now focussing on in both the awards I had the privilege to judge.
Winner - CQ Weekend - Meet your local Real Estate Agent
CQ Weekend Today have employed a creatively different take on real estate in this extremely innovative little feature. Profiling the faces behind the signs locals see in front of homes/properties for sale. Noting individual agents experience, insights and the points of difference that set them apart. The concept is another way to connect the newspaper with agents/agencies like no other media can, in a tough market segment totally dominated by online specialist platforms. Nicely laid out, it’s a relatively simple feature which can be copied in smaller to larger markets. Congratulations to the CQ Weekend Today team....Great Concept!
2nd Place - Glasshouse Country & Maleny News - Women in Local Business
Comments
A beautifully designed feature which looked fabulous in published form. Lots of text means you have to get the design and balance, just right, The News team did! This was run as a local initiative in conjunction with International Women's Day. This could be easily used as a template idea for other local marketing group profiles and by other publications as well. It just looks so good. A winner on all fronts. Well done to the Glasshouse Country & Maleny News team.
3rd Place - Bundaberg Today - Whale Watching
Comments
Creatively marketed feature on a universally popular tourism activity. Marketed to both tourists and locals. The prize was extra special ensuring the feature’s success (I’m sure). Good clean layout design too. Well done!
Best Locally Produced Print Advertisement
Judge: Pascale Budge
Overall Judges Comments
This section featured a number of outstanding advertisements. Several standout entries were particularly well-designed, incorporating striking visuals, bold and engaging headlines, and clear, consistent messaging throughout.
Winner - Bundaberg Today - Win a Whale Watching Experience
This eye-catching design effectively communicates its intended message to the audience with ease. A clear layout and concise copy make the ad highly readable, while a striking image of the experience enhances its visual appeal. The overall design and colour palette work harmoniously, creating a cohesive and engaging advertisement.
2nd Place - QC Today Weekend - Gus’s Coffee
Comments
A picture is worth a thousand words, and this clever, eye-catching graphic does just that—delivering the message with clarity while adding a playful, engaging touch that draws the viewer in while delivering an important thank you.
3rd Place - Glasshouse Country & Maleny News - Glasshouse Country Vet
Comments
A clean, visually striking advertisement featuring bold, impactful graphics. The simple yet elegant layout enhanced readability and ensured the client’s message was communicated clearly and effectively to the target audience.
Best Locally Produced Print Campaign
Judge: Pascale Budge
Overall Judges Comments
This category showcased several strong campaigns. A selection stood out for their creative concepts, compelling visuals, and impactful headlines. Each one consistently delivered the client’s message clearly and effectively to the target audience.
Winner - CQ Today - Johnsons 4WD
This particular campaign stood out due to its compelling headlines and eye-catching graphics. It was highly relevant to the target market and maintained consistent messaging throughout. The use of original, cartoon-style illustrations added a playful and engaging touch, with each ad presenting a unique sales message.
2nd Place - The Canungra Times - Bank with a difference
These ads were clear, concise, and straight to the point, making the messages easy to understand and impactful. The use of large, friendly faces helped create an inviting, personable feel that resonated with the audience and reinforced a strong sense of local connection. Consistency in branding, visual theme, and messaging across all materials contributed to a cohesive and professional campaign that effectively communicated its goals.
3rd Place - Bundaberg Today - Joel’s Handyman Service
This campaign featured attention-grabbing headlines and striking imagery that immediately captured the audience's interest. Clear, consistent messaging that was thoughtfully maintained across all ads.
Best Printed Community Advertising Promotion
Judge: Rob Duffield
Overall Judges Comments
Lesser entries received in this award category this year. All that were entered were of a high standard though.
The winning entries from Bundaberg Today and Glasshouse Country & Maleny News were stand outs in my view from a creative, design application and idea stance. It is in my view important to look at features as at with a view to them running at least annually. But, changing and evolving them to reflect the client and market needs and changes. A shout out to all entrants for their diligence to meeting their community charters of addressing their local client' marketing /promotional needs.
Winner - Bundaberg Today - 25 Reasons To Support Local
The Today team initiated this concept linking it to Queensland Small Business Month a statewide campaign. They customised the idea locally for Bundaberg which was brilliant. The feature was a sustainable and creative way to support and profile their regions small business community and their local Chamber of Commerce-Something all publishers need to do. Visually very appealing with engaging editorials supported fully by print and online promotion, it is a winner! Supporting buying local is a key charter for our regional titles. Congratulations to the Bundaberg Today team.
2nd Place - Glasshouse Country & Maleny News - Celebrating the Qld Garden Expo
A beautiful, attractive, colourful multi page localised feature published by the News to promote the Queensland Garden Expo. With pre and post Expo coverage in paper and online across website and their social media platforms it was unmissable. Carefully selected professional photography and attractive page layouts really made this feature stand out on the pages/online. Great to see a substantial feature published in the gardening category, like this one. It is often a very hard sell. A great job here from the busy News team.
3rd Place - Noosa Today - Bendigo Bank
A very innovative and visually affective four page wrap in the Noosa Today. Novel execution which I am sure created intense interest in the Bendigo Bank and its core offerings. So Powerful! Well Done.
Best Printed House Advertisement or Promotion
Judge: Andrea Graham
Overall Judges Comments
The top entries in this category were standouts. There were some well-planned campaigns with a strong messaging and call to action.
The graphics teams are clearly working well alongside the sales teams to produce quality work.
Well done to all who entered this category.
CQ Today - Chance to win an Island Escape
2nd Place - Glasshouse Country & Maleny News - Go Local Social Media Management inhouse ad
Offering social media management packages to clients is another great product we can offer in our industry. Another revenue opportunity if you have the resources to put the offer out there. This advert tells you all you need to know about the products on offer and the benefits of having professionals do the work for you. Perhaps worth considering offering this as part of your overall newspaper advertising packages not just as a standalone offer. That’s the only thing missing from this one. Love the idea. Well done.
3rd Place - Glasshouse Country & Maleny News - Spring Home Improvement feature inhouse ad
It’s always a good idea to promote your upcoming features in your own publication. The GCM News also advised potential advertisers via email through their database. The advert is very bright and has all the information required for the advertisers. This has a simple but effective layout and even shows you who will be managing your advertising. Well done.
Best ROP Feature / Supplement
Judge: Andrea Graham
Overall Judges Comments
There were some excellent works in this category with a total of 33 entries received. Most entries had a nice balance of advertising with well written editorials.
It’s evident in these features that all teams – graphics, editorial and advertising work together to produce quality work.
It was good to see some publications went with a change in direction of the standard layouts.
There a so many opportunities for this category. Continue to think of opportunities that can showcase strong advertising and editorials.
Well done to all those who entered, keep up the great work.
Winner - Gympie Today - #Bypass- Good for Gympie’s Heart
Here’s one for thinking outside the square. This is about a huge project that has been in the making for over 10 years. The building of the Gympie Bypass could have had all the negatives thrown against it from the community. Gympie Today turned this into a positive by producing a series of feature articles backed by advertising and stories sharing views of locals, business people and prominent community figures.
The editorials are clear and concise. You can sense the community pride.
Cleverly branded and titled #Bypass - Good for Gympie’s Heart with a highway strip going through the heart icon.
It really does pull at the community heartstrings. Congratulations to the Gympie Today team and the community you serve.
2nd Place - Burdekin Life - BQC Group
Celebrating milestones of local businesses is always good for our communities. Burdekin Life took the BQC Group’s milestones to another level.
This feature showed the proud history of the group and the amalgamation over the years. this was details in historical pictures and a simple timeline of the industry growth over the years. A close up and personal chat with employees give you a real feel for them personally and their roles in the business. Well supported by advertising and social snaps this was an easy read. Well done to your team.
3rd Place - Noosa Today - EV Expo Lift-out
If you were heading to the Noosa EV and Electrify Everything Expo this one had all the information you needed to know. Well supported by local advertising with easy-to-read informative editorials relative the the Expo. The use of colour was exceptional and, not overdone. Simple and easy to read with very clean lines and great ad design. Sometimes we can try to be too creative with features - this one was spot on. Keep up the great work.
Best Special Publication
Judge: Rohan Gosstray
Overall Judges Comments
A very high standard from all entries with all newspapers designing publications with both quality and reader experience in mind. Some publications were staple publications that newspapers have done for a long time, but in this case they have been done very well. A good mixture of tried and tested formulas and new ideas. Highlighting the important role that newspapers can play in capturing and recording significant local events.
Winner - CQ Today - Welcome to the Central Queensland Region
Capitalises on the local iconic event (Beef Week). A publication that increase distribution for visitors and provides a tourist guide as well as a publication for locals for the event. The publication covers a wide range of activities for visitors all displayed in an attractive fashion. This is a very useful and practical guide for an event coming to town.
2nd Place - Glasshouse Country & Maleny News - Senior Living Liftout - Taking care of the future
A publication that is well targeted to an audience of strong readers, with a wide variety of subject matter which is all relevant to the reader and a very relevant environment for advertisers. This publication is a good example of a regular feature in newspapers that delivers for the average reader.
3rd Place - Fassifern Guardian - Fassifern Guardian - Boonah State High Formal Magazine
Beautiful pictures and publication reflecting the dynamics of the event, wash out and the rain. Great for advertisers and a definite keep sake and a great memento of the event, particularly well done and likely to be kept for a long time. A good environment for advertisers who will get benefit for a lasting time.
Best Editorial Campaign
Judge: Peter Own
Overall Judges Comments
Most entrants had little understanding of what constituted an editorial campaign, seemingly believing that publishing a great many stories about a particular issue represented a campaign. That’s not a campaign; that’s just reporting. A campaign is carefully thought out, involving an issue of significance, or at least meaning, identified by a logo or slogan, followed through with discipline and involving real leadership, and ultimately realising an outcome. Most entries contained none of that. A few did, though, including the three placegetters, two of whom chose to campaign against domestic violence – in different, but effective ways. The winner, though, was Burnett Today, which, after discussions with the local Cherbourg leadership, campaigned for the retention and understanding of the Wakka Wakka language in a fortnightly series under the banner ‘Indigenous Language News’ and consistently reported the achievements of Aboriginal people, more than doing its bit to promote racial inclusion in its region..
Winner - Burnett Today - News on local First Nations culture, language
Burnett Today deserves congratulations for its efforts to not only help preserve Aboriginal culture and the Wakka Wakka language, but also to promote the activities of people within its local Aboriginal communities. It began its editorial campaign with a clear statement of intent, and followed up with a fortnightly ’Indigenous Language News’ section. No evidence was submitted on the effectiveness of its campaign, but commonsense suggests it can only foster inclusion, understanding and acceptance of indigenous culture in the Burnett.
2nd Place - Bundaberg Today - Family violence and violence against women
Here is a well thought out, meticulously planned and urgently needed campaign of genuine merit. Bundaberg Today’s ’Road To Respect’ campaign was clearly branded and delivered with discipline and energy. At times the coverage became a little institutional in nature, and some firsthand experiences from those who had suffered domestic abuse might have added a human face to the campaign. But the regular double-page graphics and the breadth of the coverage could only have helped to deliver the message that domestic violence, in any form, is unacceptable.
3rd Place - The Express Mareeba - Domestic violence
The Express launched a whole-hearted month-long campaign against domestic violence, even changing its masthead from red to purple to create attention to a nationwide problem. The entry suggests there was a month-long series of articles, but no such evidence was submitted, except for one moving personal story from a victim of domestic abuse. There is no doubt, however, that The Express’ coverage of the issue raised awareness and, hopefully, reduced the incidence of domestic violence in the Mareeba area
Journalistic Excellence for an Individual Journalist
Judge: Caroline Graham
Overall Judges Comments
An inspiring and challenging entry to judge, this category was packed with the best of regional news reporting – journalists fighting for their communities, exposing wrongdoing and centering the voices of locals from all walks of life. So many entries were worthy of recognition. A truly vital and impressive collection of work.
Winner - Rob Mellett - Ipswich Tribune
Rob Mellett’s impressive portfolio of accountablity reporting demonstrates a dogged pursuit of truth and fairness. One submitted series sparked an inquiry led by the Queensland Mental Health Commissioner, the other saved a farm. He centres the voices of the community members most affected by the issues he covers, telling powerful human stories while holding power to account.
2nd Place - Julian Lehnert - Burnett Today
Julian Lehnert’s feature stories demonstrate credibility, range and impact. His work on the impact of land-clearing on koalas generated a wave of submissions, leading the Federal Government to declare a Burnett renewable project a ’controlled action’ for the first time in 20 years, while his work with Cherbourg’s in the lead-up to the Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry gave a significant boost to the community in pursuit of self-determination.
3rd Place - Trish Bowman - CQ Today/Weekend
Deep, nuanced and hard-hitting, Trish Bowman’s portfolio of work featured an expose on the struggles of the Capricorn Coast Hospital and her exclusive work on the Great Keppel Island native title claim, which was followed up by statewide media.
Best Marketing Campaign
Judge: Rohan Gosstray
Overall Judges Comments
Great entries—these campaigns showcased a thoughtful and strategic approach to raising awareness of the publication and its associated platforms. It effectively combined community engagement and support from local representatives, highlighting just how integral a newspaper can be to the fabric of its community. These campaigns were well-executed, demonstrating a clear understanding of how to foster participation and build lasting connections
Winner - Mackay and Whitsunday Life
What a great initiative. Community, fund raising, celebrations and support form local representatives. A great celebration for how important a newspaper can become to its community. This has been well thought out and covers a number of very powerful community initiatives from fund raising to community participation.
2nd Place - Bundaberg Today
Clean clear promotion that makes it simple for participants to enter and get involved and an added bonus for using the newspaper. Always valuable.
Best Overall Journalistic Team Excellence Award for a Newspaper
Judges: Celine Foenander
Overall Judges Comments
Congratulations on producing an outstanding series of publications. Your storytelling from the front page to the back informed, inspired and connected your communities and your commitment to highlighting local voices shone through.
There are multiple elements enhancing the reader’s experience:
· simple layout and story flow
· the use of subheads
· the headers highlighting the story’s location and within longer stories to break up copy
· throughout the publication are an asset as
· large, bold straps and page headings to highlight features.
The Cyclone Jasper follow-up displayed a high-level of community advocacy and the personal stories were sensitively covered.
Keep telling the stories that matter.
Winner - Cairns Local News Team
Clean layout. Great use of headers to break up long copy. Regions/towns/suburbs clearly identified. Nice looking letters page which combines online comments. Good, strong local content. ’Golden casket’ story was a standout. Well done.
2nd Place - Ipswich Tribune
Clean layout and very readable. Rob Mellett consistently produced quality reporting and writing as did David Lems for the sports pages. The Verve entertainment section was really well produced and put the spotlight on local events that otherwise may have been gobbled up in community news.
3rd Place - Bundaberg Today
Nice looking paper with a good contribution across the editorial team. Stories were a little long.
Best Single Story by an Individual Journalist
Judge: Caroline Graham
Overall Judges Comments
Amid the challenges of rolling deadlines, the reporters in this category found the time and tenacity to go deeper, ask challenging questions and doggedly pursue answers.
Winner - Rob Mellett - Ipswich Tribune - Wolston Park inquiry launched
This vital reporting revealed historic abuse at Wacol’s Wolston Park Mental Hospital, including rape, assault, withholding of medication and solitary confinement. Rob Mellet’s tenacious reporting helped pressure the Queensland Government to release records that would otherwise have remained sealed and launch a state inquiry into patient abuse at the facility.
2nd Place - Cindy Lever - Tamborine Mountain News - Doctor crisis hits Tamborine Mountain
This well-written feature explores the consequences of a dire shortage of doctors for Tamborine Mountain and its aging population. Though a wide range of interviews with doctors, patients and the State Member, Cindy Lever raises important community concerns and advocates for change.
3rd Place - Marina Gomide - The Sentinel - Meals on Wheels shuts down
In this extensively researched feature, Marina Gomide
dives deeply into Moreton Bay Meals on Wheels kitchen closures, advocating for vulnerable members of the community. It’s not easy to find the resources for investigative reporting in regional areas; this exclusive scoop asks important questions.
Young Journalist of the Year
Judge: Peter Owen
Overall Judges Comments
There was a significant gap between the best and the worst of this year’s entries, indicating perhaps a lack of supervision and an absence of effective mentoring in some newsrooms. Too many entries displayed an unfortunate ignorance of the rules of grammar and effective sentence construction. Whether we like it or not, readers still judge our work on our ability to write competently, at least. The three placegetters, however, expressed themselves well, understood the need to hook a reader’s interest in the intro, put a human face to the story, include all the relevant information in an orderly fashion, and put in that little extra work to make their stories come alive.
Winner - Kirra Livingstone - Glasshouse Country and Maleny News
This entry demonstrates a highly professional approach to local reporting. In her ’cost of living’ piece, the story is appropriately angled on the experiences of real people, and is well organised, containing all of the relevant information in a logical order. There is some repetition of information but, by and large, the work is concise and informative. The article about the shonky pool builder is, likewise, comprehensive and contains comment from every relevant source. Good work.
2nd Place - Elka Scherer - Bundaberg Today
Outstanding series on Bundy women who have overcome obstacles to reach the heights in sport, complemented by some great video snippets, which cleverly convey the personalities of the athletes. The articles - while a tad too long , which seems to be a hallmark of this year’s entrants - are well-written and well organised. I liked the break-out boxes, containing the source’s sporting achievements, and the enthusiasm showcased by both the sportswomen and the writer. The report on the serious traffic accident on the Bruce Hwy showed Elka is a young journalist of versatility and skill
3rd Place - Victoria Velton - Hinchinbrook Life
A commendable entry from an inexperienced journalist charged with covering a serious natural disaster. Clearly, Victoria worked hard to secure phone interviews with these flood victims and her reports open a window on what it was like for a normal family facing abnormal circumstances. Some minor grammar inconsistencies and other errors that should have been picked up in the review process, but this is work of considerable promise.
Best Community Portrait
Judge: Derek Moore
Overall Judges Comments
Judging the Best Community and Portrait Award entries had a good display of community diversity. The most compelling photographs were those that went beyond simply capturing a likeness; they successfully conveyed genuine emotion and often sparked an immediate smile. What stood out was the photographers' ability to seize authentic moments of connection and individual character. Beyond the emotional resonance, the strongest submissions also demonstrated a keen understanding of technical elements. Prioritising proper exposure ensured that the important visual details within each portrait were effortlessly grasped, allowing the intended message and the subject's personality to truly shine through and, quite literally, stop them on the page.
Winner- Katie O’Brien - Tamborine Mountain News - Making music on the mountain
This is a vibrant and dynamic portrait of a musician. The inspired choice to capture him leaping, rather than posing, injects incredible energy into the image. The mountain backdrop beautifully connects him to his community.
2nd Place - Lyle Radford - Moreton Border News - Grand champion win
This picture, alive with vibrant energy, tells the story of her victory through pure visual storytelling, inviting you to feel the exhilaration of her win.
3rd Place - Lyle Radford - Ipswich Tribune - Wildlife champion
A well-lit subject, set against a clean backdrop and surrounded with fury animals, evokes a sense of enjoyment for the reader. The subject’s proud expression underscores how their simple actions contribute to the well-being of the community and its wildlife, fostering this delightful scene of saving community life.
Best News Picture
Judge: Derek Moore
Overall Judges Comments
This category featured a compelling selection of images that clearly and effectively illustrated the news stories they accompanied. My focus was on identifying photographs with clean, uncluttered backgrounds that allowed the subject matter to truly stand out. Across the entries, it was clear that many photographers prioritised good exposure, enabling the visual details and intended message of each shot to be effortlessly grasped. Appreciated both the dynamic action captured in some submissions and the impactful storytelling conveyed through more posed or simpler compositions. Ultimately, the strongest images were those that could communicate a clear story at a glance, reminding us that sometimes the most straightforward photographs leave the most lasting impression.
Winner- Kirra Livingstone - Glasshouse Country and Maleny News - Kayden’s cancer journey
This picture exemplifies how visual storytelling can be most effective. The simple background and the poignant detail of the toy’s missing eye communicate the story’s sensitivity without reliance on words.
2nd Place - Lyle Radford - Fassifern Guardian - Rain and Flame at the Boonah Show
The drama unfolds in this perfectly captured, sharp image of the smash-up derby. The driver’s leaping escape from the burning wreckage at precisely the right moment injects a strong sense of emergency.
3rd Place - Lyle Radford - Ipswich Tribune - Grand slam
This photograph powerfully conveys the emotion of victory. Sharp and well-exposed, it freezes the moment of the grand final win, showcasing the unbridled joy on the man’s face as he raises the trophy.
Best Sports Picture
Judge: Derek Moore
Overall Judges Comments
This category showcased a diverse range of photographs capturing moments from various sporting events. While many entries competently documented athletic action, and while some images shared similar subjects, the standout entries were those that effectively conveyed a strong emotional connection. The strongest submissions revealed a creative eye—capturing moments that were both fleeting and emotionally charged, the kind that demand split-second timing and instinctive precision. It was this ability to freeze a powerful, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in a visually striking and technically refined way that distinguished the most outstanding entries from the rest.
Winner - Shane Zahner - Gympie Today - Un-bull-eviable
This striking bull riding photograph immediately captures the viewer’s attention, vividly portraying both the inherent danger, emphasized by the precarious way the rider lands on the ground headfirst with the bull airborne above, all while other riders look on in the background Sends chills down your spine
2nd Place - Mikayla Haupt - Bundaberg Today - Mitchell Silcox nearly scorpions trying to get to second.
Perfectly timed and exposed, this photograph freezes a moment of intense action. The cloud of dust and the baseball helmet flying off, coupled with the player’s desperate expression as they strive for the plate, tell a compelling story of effort and urgency.
3rd Place - Marina Gomide - The Sentinel - Jousting in action
To truly capture the impact of jousting requires a keen eye for the right angle and timing. This image captures it well, freezing the precise moment of contact with the broken lances suspended in the air, visually narrating the force of the sport which is difficult to photograph
Best Free Newspaper
Judges: Dr Kristy Hess & Alison McAdam
Overall Judges Comments
The opportunity to judge the best free newspaper provided a valuable insight into the diverse and vibrant sources of local news across Queensland. Country Press Australia members can learn from some of the novel additions that some mastheads are implementing, such as image-focused death tributes, free fridge calendars and flip editions. Newspaper that adopted original, novel pieces of journalism stood out, and quality photography is still a recognised mainstay.
Winner - Noosa Today
Noosa Today is a polished product with well-written articles that cover topics from council reporting to community profiles. The newspaper includes creative photography, design and advertising. While there were other newspaper that provided stronger, original and novel pieces of journalism and innovative ideas, Noosa Today was consistent across the judging categories and was a worthy winner.
2nd Place - Redland Bayside News
The Redland Bayside News is a newspaper that knows how to grab the audience’s attention with striking front page designs and breaking news stories that are clearly labelled with eye-catching graphics. A worthy top three award winner.
3rd Place - Cairns Local News
The clean, modern design of the Cairns Local News helped it stand out from the crowd. We were impressed with the list of staff on page two, with names, photos and contact details making the newspaper easily accessible to it readers.
Best Paid Newspaper
Judges: Dr Kristy Hess & Alison McAdam
Overall Judges Comments
With so many of the Today Group newspapers in this mix, it was hard to identify a clear stand out, but it also highlighted the design of other newspapers that give a unique flavour and feel to local news. A particular mention goes to the clear and concise news writing skills at the Fassifern Guardian, and to Gympie Today’s well-sign-posted series on the bypass and its human-interest focus on the hospital system in crisis.
Winner - CQ Today Weekend
CQ Weekend Today’s fresh and eye catching front page design and stories was a stand out feature, and particular praise is given for the audience survey conducted on youth crime, which generated considerable content for the paper. We note a similar survey was also conducted by the South Burnett Today, highlighting what a major publisher can do. The Weekend captures everything a community newspaper is celebrated for.
2nd Place - Gympie Today
The judges were impressed with the way the Gympie Today newspaper reported big issues such as hospital wait times through personalised stories, a technique that helps readers relate to and understand the problem. The newspaper also showed its ability to follow a story and campaign for change. A worthy top-three award winner.
3rd Place - Fassifern Guardian
The Fassifern Guardian achieved a very high score in the Journalism section of the judging criteria, highlighting the consistently well-written stories featured throughout its pages. An accessible newspaper that serves its community well.
Best Online Digital Presence
Judges: Celine Foenander
Overall Judges Comments
Congratulations to Burnett Today for its commitment to digital growth and innovation. It’s exciting to see a well-executed balance between traditional and digital platforms.
By consistently updating your website multiple times a day with 4-6 fresh stories, you’ve established an engaging and dynamic online presence which ensures your readers are always informed and connected.
With 560 email subscribers, it’s clear your efforts to build and nurture a loyal audience are paying off - people won’t subscribe unless you are giving them something worth reading. And with the ‘Editor’s top news picks’, you are delivering more than just access through a paywall.
Your approach of promoting digital content in the print edition indicates you are not afraid to send readers online. Sadly, this fear gripped some newspapers early in the digital era, forcing them to play catch-up while their competitors and colleagues had already established an online presence.
Kudos to your team for embracing a blend of innovation and tradition to grow your engagement and audience.
Winner - Burnett Today
Thank you for outlining your efforts clearly in the submission. An admirable quest to ensure your masthead survives in hard copy and thrives online! It’s terrific your digital subscribers get more than just access through a paywall. The ’Editor’s top news picks’, in particular, add a little ’exclusivity’ to signing up. I liked the cross promotion of the hard copy edition online using your community members. Hopefully the groups you use are sharing it on their own pages!
2nd Place - Cairns Local News
Great to see the work to convince your advertisers there is a place for them on your online platforms. And of course, you get them - and the public - to your platforms by delivering up-to-date and engaging content. Good luck with the exclusive content hub - will be great to see how it works in a regional city like yours.
3rd Place - The Sentinel
Well done on making the most of the issues that matter to your community. The teen fired from his job clearly hit the mark with readers who believe in a ’fair go’ and to get 250 shares from your Facebook page alone is a mammoth effort. Clever then that you kept rolling by sharing it with community pages where your readers are more likely to engage. Curious how your website plays in to this overall online strategy...?