The Weekly Times named Media Outlet of the Year at Rural Press Club of Victoria awards
The Weekly Times has been named Media Outlet of the Year at the Rural Press Club of Victoria’s Journalism & Photography Awards, held at South Wharf in Melbourne on Friday, August 26.
The newspaper claimed the prestigious title, ahead of three other finalists – the Latrobe Valley Express, the Bendigo Advertiser and the Geelong Advertiser.
The Weekly Times editor, Ed Gannon, accepted the award on the night.
Rural Press Club of Victoria President, Rex Martinich, said:
“On behalf of the Rural Press Club of Victoria, I congratulate the Weekly Times and every other award winner, as well as all who entered their work.” “The difficulty our judges had in ranking the top awards entries in each category was a testament to the quality of journalism being produced in regional Victoria.”
The Geelong Advertiser’s Mandy Squires was named Journalist of the Year, an award she also received last year. Mandy received the award ahead of Simone Smith, from The Weekly Times, and Melissa Cunningham from the Ballarat Courier.
The panel of judges said Mandy’s body of work had sheer impact resulting from doggedness, courage and her clear sense of purpose as a journalist.
Glenn Daniels of the Bendigo Advertiser was named Photographer of the Year, edging out Mike Moores of the Meander Valley Gazette, and Dale Webster, of The Weekly Times.
A highly competitive field in the Ray Frawley Young Journalist of the Year showed that the future is in good hands.
The award was presented to Bridget Judd, ahead of Christopher Testa from the Sunraysia Daily, and Bethany Tyler from the Geelong Advertiser.
Chair of the judging panel, Anne Burgi, said this year’s entries proved rural and regional journalism is alive and well.
“This year’s awards showed thoughtful, expressive writing on a myriad of topics, that probe diverse issues directly affecting rural and regional audiences.
“The photography entries demonstrate clearly that good photography in newspapers is not an optional extra but adds immeasurably to the life of the product.
“This year’s entries across the board were of a particularly high caliber, making each decision for the judges difficult.”
The awards took place on Friday 26 August in front of 125 people, including 110 of Victoria’s leading rural and regional media.
Click here to see the full list of winners
