Regional Newspaper of the Year

This category is for the regional daily newspaper that demonstrates the most substantial improvement in quality and relevance to its readers across all media platforms available to it.

This award is judged on innovation and success in responding to challenges, not on greatest resources or highest circulation.

Entries to this category are automatically entered for Newspaper of the Year as well. It is not necessary to submit two entries.

Who can enter

All News Limited regional newspapers are eligible for this award.

For the purposes of this award, Regional Newspapers are:

The Cairns Post, Townsville Bulletin, NT News and Sunday Territorian, Gold Coast Bulletin, The Weekly Times, Geelong Advertiser, The Mercury and Sunday Tasmanian, The Post Courier in Papua New Guinea and The Fiji Times.

Criteria

Improvements to the masthead need to be demonstrated by a combination of: 
 
a. News breaking and campaigning in the public interest
b. Engagement with the community on important public issues
c. Reporting on issues of greatest importance to its readership
d. Original and leading coverage of events and issues in its area
e. The newspaper’s development as a multi-platform publisher
f. Improvements in circulation, readership and audience engagement
g. Best use of available resources
h. Design, layout and artwork
i. Leadership and talent development.

Dates for eligible work 

Newspapers must have been published in the 12 months from August 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010.

What to submit

1. A supporting statement, plus any relevant supporting documentation, to show how the entry meets the selection criteria, plus

2. Two copies of your newspaper from within the judging period. These may be two copies of the same edition, or separate editions from different dates.
 
3. Your paper’s website address or links to expired pages – if available - should be provided in your supporting statement. CDs of expired pages will be accepted. Please advise of any CD content in the supporting statement.
 

Entries may be on online, CD, or a combination of both – with copies of papers sent to the address below. 
 

Important note to editors

Your supporting statement provides the context to judge your entry. It is the most important element of your submission. You need to be detailed and specific in addressing how your paper meets the criteria.

Your entry is not judged on the quality of the printed newspaper alone and will be assessed on your innovation and use of other available platforms to increase penetration of your potential audience.

Please include details of how your newspaper had a competitive advantage over not just print rivals but also other media outlets and websites.
 

Who can nominate

Entries for Regional Newspaper of the Year must be lodged by editors, editors-in-chief or divisional managing directors or general managers.

What to Enter 

Entries in previous years have become elaborate productions, with attachments or inclusions which made the file sizes too large and time consuming for judges to open.

Please remember your submission is NOT for publication and does not need to be high resolution. The document needs to be read, not reproduced. The entry will be judged on its content, NOT its appearance. Please keep file sizes down. Ideally, entries should be less than 10MB. 
 

How to Enter

Read the preliminary instructions provided on the website for information on library PDF or page retrieval, then enter online by completing the entry form and attaching your supporting statement. Front pages, pages of new sections or other published material supporting your entry can be attached via the coupon. However, it is best all this is provided in one document (or broken into parts). It makes for a better presentation and is easier for judges to digest.

If you prefer to submit your entry on CD, send your submission – along with any newspaper copies in the internal mail (where this service is provided) to News Awards, c/o Corporate Affairs, Level 5, News Limited, 2 Holt Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010.

If you are sending a CD – or sending a component of your entry on CD – it is essential that you also email Sarah Cullens at cullenss@newsltd.com.au so we know a CD entry has been lodged. If your entry gets lost in the mail, we have no other way of knowing you entered.

Entries from PNG and Fiji will be via CD because they have no access to the entry coupon from the website.
If you have any questions contact Editorial Communications Manager Lucinda Duckett on (02) 9288 3125 or email her: duckettl@newsltd.com.au

If you have any questions about how to submit your entry online, or if you need help doing so, call Les Hoffman, on 02 6680 2080 or email hoffmanl@newsltd.com.au.

Closing date

Entries must be received by Thursday, July 29.