It was a New Zealand newspaper that came up trumps at this week’s Pacific Area Newspapers Publishers’ Association (PANPA) 2015 awards - with The New Zealand Herald named Newspaper of the Year.
Finalists included the likes of The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian Financial Review, and the Herald Sun, but The New Zealand Herald really impressed the judging panel.
“Across all sections, The New Zealand Herald excels, with bright, engaging treatment. It fearlessly stands up when needed on major issues, but still knows how to have fun. It is a compulsive read - both in print and online. The paper says its mission is to advocate, inform and entertain. It succeeds - in spades,” says the PANPA judging panel.
“This year's entries were of an exceptional standard. In many ways the variety of emphasis and style and approach to stories to cover shows the diversity of media choice across the region. Each title has articulated aggressive and comprehensive digital and business strategies as well as taking great pride in their print editions. It remains clear that across the board, print newspapers and their journalism continue to set the social and political agenda.”
The Newspaper Works chief executive Mark Hollands adds: “Our judges overwhelmingly remarked on the high quality of journalism and the diversity of entertaining, provocative and often courageous ways in which newspaper media is engaging audiences. This ability to authoritatively connect, inform and entertain has never been more important at a time when audiences have limitless choice in content and means of accessing it.”
Other winners included:
NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
Daily Newspaper of the Year, Community - The Gympie Times, APN News & Media
Daily Newspaper of the Year, Regional - Newcastle Herald, Fairfax Media
Daily Newspaper of the Year, National/Metropolitan - The New Zealand Herald, NZME
Weekend Newspaper of the Year - The Weekend Australian, News Corp Australia
Non-daily Newspaper of the Year, Community - The City, Messenger Newspapers
Non-daily Newspaper of the Year, Regional - Queensland Country Life, Fairfax Media
DIGITAL
Best Mobile Site/App - The Age iPad App, The Age
Best Niche / Specialty App or Microsite - #SnapSydney, NewsLocal, News Corp Australia
Innovation of the Year - Story of Gallipoli, The Age, Fairfax Media
News Site of the Year, Community - The Maitland Mercury (www.maitlandmercury.com.au)
News Site of the Year, Regional - Newcastle Herald (www.herald.com.au)
News Site of the Year, National / Metropolitan - The Advertiser, Adelaide (www.advertiser.com.au)
