APN's, New Zealand business, NZME took out the top award at the PANPA Newspaper of the Year awards on Friday night, with New Zealand Herald winning Daily Newspaper of the Year in the National/Metropolitan category.
Other overall winners included New Corp's The Weekend Australian, which took out Weekend Newspaper of the Year, Fairfax's Newcastle Herald won Regional Daily Newspaper of the Year and Community Daily Newspaper of the year went to APN's The Gympie Times.
The Newscastle Herald continued its stellar run, with the paper taking out the regional award for the third year in a row. Newcastle-Hunter group managing editor Chad Watson said on the night that the paper's journalists are very proud of what they do, but he also made mention of the recent job cuts the paper has experienced.
“The Newcastle Herald has been building windmills since 1858, which, means we'll be turning out quality local journalism before, during, and long after, that storm,” Watson said.
A mix of panels and independent judges oversaw this year’s Newspaper of the Year, with The Newspaper Works outlining that no category had fewer than three judges, wth almost 90 judges volunteered their time to take part.
“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,” The Newspaper Works chief executive Mark Hollands said.
“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.
“I congratulate all the finalists and winners on their outstanding work, and thank our judges for contributing their time and expertise. Their commitment underscores the importance of newspaper media to our societies."
See all the winners below.
Daily Newspaper of the Year
National/Metropolitan
The New Zealand Herald – NZME.
Regional
Newcastle Herald – Fairfax Media
Community
The Gympie Times – APN News & Media
Weekend Newspaper of the Year
The Weekend Australian – News Corp Australia
Non-daily Newspaper of the Year
Community
The City – Messenger Newspapers
Regional
Queensland Country Life – Fairfax Media
Photography
Portrait
Community
Dean Finlay – Jon Hewson, Mandurah Coastal Times
Regional
Beauty Redefined – Sylvia Liber, Illawarra Mercury
National/Metropolitan
Adam Houda – Nicolas Walker, Good Weekend Magazine, Fairfax Media
Features and Lifestyle
Community
The Giants – Andrew Ritchie, Western Suburbs Weekly, Community Newspaper Group
Regional
Fields Of Fire – Adam Hourigan, Daily Examiner
National/Metropolitan
Legends of the Small Screen – David Caird, News Corp Australia (Sunday Herald Sun, Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Mail)
Sport
Community
Jessica Whiting – Jon Hewson, Mandurah Coastal Times
Regional
Dive – Stephen Parker, Rotorua Daily Post
National/Metropolitan
Blue Water Classic – Sydney Hobart Race 2014 – Brett Costello, Daily Telegraph
News
Community
Dramatic Water Rescue – Simon Maude, North Shore Times, New Zealand
Regional
How do you tell him? – Glenn Hampson, Gold Coast Bulletin
National / Metropolitan (TIE)
Dramatic Water Rescue – Simon Maude, stuff.co.nz
Sydney’s Sea of Love – Toby Zerna, Courier-Mail and dailytelegraph.com.au
Environment
1-Degree’s Recycling Expo – News Corp Australia
Technical excellence
Single-width
Community
Sharp Daily (Taiwan) – Apple Daily Publications
Regional
Herdsman Print Centre – Harvey-Waroona Reporter, West Australian Newspapers
National/Metropolitan
Apple Daily (Hong Kong) – Apple Daily Publications
Double-width
Community
Frankston Times – Border Mail Print Centre, Albury, Fairfax Media
Regional
Illawarra Mercury – Canberra Print & Distribution Centre, Fairfax Media
National/Metropolitan
South China Morning Post, Hong Kong
Pre-print or Supplement (OPEN)
Lifestyles of the 50+ – Tamworth Print Centre, Fairfax Media
Print Centre of the Year (OPEN)
Yandina Print Centre, APN News & Media
Digital
Best Mobile Site/App (OPEN)
The Age iPad App – The Age
Best Niche / Specialty App or Microsite (OPEN)
#SnapSydney – NewsLocal, News Corp Australia
Innovation of the Year (OPEN)
Story of Gallipoli – The Age, Fairfax Media
News Site of the Year
Community
The Maitland Mercury (www.maitlandmercury.com.au)
Regional
Newcastle Herald (www.herald.com.au)
National / Metropolitan
The Advertiser, Adelaide (www.advertiser.com.au)
Hegarty Industry Scholarship - Best Young Executive Under 35
Jared Savage – The New Zealand Herald, NZME
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