More than 800 Archant employees attended the company’s annual awards this year in the grounds of Audley End stately home in Essex.
The
awards were handed out by TV impressionist Jon Culshaw, helped by
Archant chief executive John Fry, Archant group finance director Adrian
Jeakings and Archant regional MD Nigel Websper.
The Norfolk
Weeklies team from Archant Norfolk was awarded the Archant Award by
group chairman Richard Jewson and John Fry. The Norfolk Weeklies sales
team also won the team of the year class.
Archant London’s
Islington Gazette won the paid-for newspaper of the year accolade.
Judges commented on how the newspaper continues to reflect its
community very well.
Romford Recorder reporter Matt Knight
completed the double for the London division by scooping the editorial
person of the year title.
For the second year in a row, the Comet, from Archant Hertfordshire, took the free newspaper of the year award.
The new category, community or small-scale newspaper of the year, was won by Archant South West’s Sidmouth Herald .
Photography
Monthly, from Archant Specialist, took the magazine of theyear crown.
Citing the great increase in newstrade and subscriptions that the
magazine has enjoyed, judges described the magazine as very readable
and visually outstanding.
The awards ceremony took the form of a
music festival, with novelties such as trampoline bungee jumping and
human table football during the day, and music and comedy in the
evening.
Archant awards 2005
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Archant Award: Norfolk Weeklies team, Archant Norfolk
Archant team of the year: Norfolk Weeklies sales team
Archant paid-for newspaper of the year: Islington Gazette
Editorial person of the year: Matt Knight, Romford Recorder
Free newspaper of the year: Comet (Archant Herts)
Archant magazine of the year: Photography Monthly (Archant Specialist)
Community or small-scale newspaper of the year: Sidmouth Herald (Archant SW)
Community initiative of the year: Weston & Somerset Mercury and
North Somerset Times (for the Top Of The Pops campaign to find new
school crossing control people)
Unsung hero/heroine award: Julie Williams, North Devon Gazette & Advertiser
Services/business support person of the year: Nicky Macro, Suffolk Design Studio
Archant newcomer of the year: Katy Evans, East Anglian Daily Times
Digital initiative, product or service of the year: Virtual Careers 05 Exhibition CD
Non-newspaper local product or service of the year: Norfolk Recruitment Awards, Archant Norfolk
Advert, commercial feature or supplement of the year: Arts, Antiques
& Collectibles from the ad sales department and editorial projects
unit, Archant Norfolk
Marketing & promotion initiative award: Supermarket Sampling/ Linksave Promotion from the EDP and Evening News.
Innovation, idea or launch of the year: Asian Extra from Archant Scotland
Commercial person of the year: Denise Evers from Archant Life’s Essex Life
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