The Bath Chronicle’s switch from daily to weekly has helped it scoop the top prize at the Newspaper Society’s Weekly Newspaper Awards.
The Northcliffe-owned Chronicle picked up paid-for weekly newspaper of the year, just over a year after the newspaper scrapped its daily edition and became a weekly.
In its first official ABC audit as a weekly in March this year the Chronicle had a weekly circulation averaging 22,776 in the second half of 2007, compared with an average sale of 12,000 as a daily. This figure dropped to 20,275 for the first half of 2008.
MK News, published by Iliffe News & Media, also picked up a top award, winning free weekly newspaper of the year at the awards held last night at the Marriott Hotel in Leeds.
CN Group’s Cumberland News took home three awards, winning paid-for weekly newspaper of the year in the North West, North East and Yorkshire; reporter Jon Colman won sports journalist of the year and Roger Lytollis was named features journalist of the year.
The Shrewsbury Chronicle was paid-for weekly newspaper of the year in the West and East Midlands and the Eastern Region.
Winners of the regional categories were shortlisted for the overall award.
Weekly newspaper website of the year went to the Maidenhead Advertiser.
NS communications director Lynne Anderson said: ‘This year saw an excellent selection of work submitted for the Weekly Newspaper Awards which drew high praise from the judging panel.
“The awards provide a fantastic opportunity for the innovation and creativity in the industry to be recognised and rewarded.”
Newspaper Society Awards full list of winners:
Newspaper of the Year (Paid-for)
GOLD: Bath Chronicle
SILVER: Cumberland News
BRONZE: Shrewsbury Chronicle
Newspaper of the Year (Free)
GOLD: MK News
SILVER: Hunts Post
BRONZE: Clevedon Mercury, Chester and District Standard
News Journalist of the Year (Paid-for)
GOLD: Helen Machin, Tamworth Herald
SILVER: Cherry Wilson, Rotherham Advertiser
BRONZE: Tom Bevan, Western Gazette
News Journalist of the Year (Free)
GOLD: Alex Ross, Weston and Worle News
SILVER: John Elworthy, Cambs Times
BRONZE: Natasha Young, Maghull Champion
Sports Journalist of the Year (Paid-for)
GOLD: Jon Colman, Cumberland News
SILVER: Amanda Little, Cumberland News
BRONZE: David Rimmer, Bishop Stortford Observer
Feature Journalist of the Year (Paid-for)
GOLD: Roger Lytollis, Cumberland News
SILVER: Reg Little, Oxford Times
BRONZE: Cherry Wilson, Rotherham Advertiser
Feature Journalist of the Year (Free)
GOLD: Robert Bridge, Walsall Advertiser
SILVER: George Makin, Walsall Advertiser
BRONZE: Bethan Dorsett, Trafford Metro News
Photographer of the Year (Paid-for)
GOLD: Andy Lambert, Stockport Express
SILVER: Marisa Cashill, Derbyshire Times
BRONZE: Jonathan Becker, Cumberland News
Photographer of the Year (Free)
GOLD: Allan Williamson, Lichfield Mercury
SILVER: Paul Johnson, Sutton Coldfield Observer
BRONZE: Andy Lambert, South Manchester Reporter
Sports Photographer of the Year (Paid-for)
GOLD: Laura Jones, Western Gazette
SILVER: David Hollins, Cumberland News
BRONZE: Paul Barber, Tamworth Herald
Sports Photographer of the Year (Free)
GOLD: Allan Williamson, Lichfield Mercury
SILVER: Andy Handley, MK News
BRONZE: John Fryer, South Manchester Reporter
Website of the Year
GOLD: Maidenhead Advertiser
SILVER: Newbury Weekly News
BRONZE: Welwyn and Hatfield Times
Newspaper of the Year in the South East, including Greater London (Paid-for)
GOLD: Wood & Vale (Hampstead & Highgate Express Series)
SILVER: Newbury Weekly News
BRONZE: Romford Recorder
Newspaper of the Year in the South East, including Greater London (Free)
GOLD: MK News
SILVER: Camden Gazette
BRONZE: Croydon Guardian
Newspaper of the Year in Wales and the South West (Paid-for)
GOLD: Bath Chronicle
SILVER: North Devon Journal
BRONZE: Cambrian News
Newspaper of the Year in Wales and the South West (Free)
GOLD: Clevedon Mercury
SILVER: Weston and Worle News
BRONZE: North Somerset Times
Newspaper of the Year in the West and East Midlands and Eastern Region (Paid-for)
GOLD: Shrewsbury Chronicle
SILVER: Lowestoft Journal
BRONZE: Tamworth Herald
Newspaper of the Year in the West and East Midlands and Eastern Region (Free)
GOLD: Hunts Post
SILVER: Sutton Coldfield Observer
BRONZE: The Comet
Newspaper of the Year in the North West, North East and Yorkshire (Paid-for)
GOLD: Cumberland News
SILVER: Rotherham Advertiser
BRONZE: Wakefield Express
Newspaper of the Year in the North West, North East and Yorkshire (Free)
GOLD: Chester Standard
SILVER: South Manchester Reporter
BRONZE: Salford Advertiser
Newspaper of Year in Scotland (Paid-for)
GOLD: Southern Reporter
SILVER: Falkirk Herald
BRONZE: Berwickshire News
Newspaper of Year in Scotland (Free)
GOLD: Aberdeen Citizen
SILVER: East Kilbride Mail
BRONZE: Allanwater News
Supplement or Section of the Year (Paid-for)
GOLD: Islington Gazette, Trends Magazine
SILVER: Slough and Windsor Observer, ABC to PHD
BRONZE: Reading Chronicle, Options for Education 2008
Supplement or Section of the Year (Free)
GOLD: Wigan Reporter, NHS 60 Years
SILVER: East Kilbride Mail, EK Works 08
BRONZE: Aberdeen Citizen, Take a Drive
Niche Publication of the Year (Paid-for)
GOLD: Chichester Observer, etc.
SILVER: Falkirk Herald, Brides & Grooms
BRONZE: Ham & High, North London Restaurant Guide
Niche Publication of the Year (Free)
GOLD: Stourbridge News, I Will
SILVER: North Wales Pioneer, We Love Llandudno
BRONZE: MK News, MK Christmas Magazine 2007
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