The Ashburton Guardian has confirmed its reputation as one of New Zealand’s best newspapers, having unprecedented twin success in the prestigious Voyager Media Awards.
In a real coup, the Guardian was named runner-up in the sought-after Community Newspaper of the Year category at the annual awards in a glitzy black-tie event attended by more than 600 people in Auckland on Saturday night.
It was also a finalist in the best editorial campaign or project at New Zealand journalism’s biggest night of the year, celebrating broadcast, print and digital media.
Community newspaper of the year judges, Linda Sanders and Mike Fletcher, said the Ashburton Guardian “impressed with its approach to journalism and the community’’ and narrowly missed out on the big gong to the Whakatane Beacon.
“These (Beacon) papers pipped the runners-up, but only just,’’ they said.
“The standard of entries confirmed that community newspapers are doing a great job for their readers.“
Ashburton Guardian managing editor, Daryl Holden, said the dual success – and being the only community newspaper to feature in two finals categories in an event dominated by media powerhouses NZME and Stuff – was something to be proud of, especially being named a close second in the tough community newspaper section.
“It shows we’re leading the way in terms of the quality of our journalism, production, design, to working with advertising clients to tell their stories and promote their wares at a level that’s been recognised nationally,’’ Holden said.
“It underlines that we’re not only the best paper and media vehicle for advertising in Mid Canterbury, but we’re also one of the top performers in New Zealand.
“That’s great for us, great for our community and great for advertisers wanting to use our nationally recognised platforms to make a difference to their businesses.’’
Holden was also rapt that the Guardian’s extensive shop smart, shop local series, which helped keep Ashburton businesses afloat after two years of trading woes because of Covid-19 and the redevelopment of the town’s CBD, was identified as one of the top media campaigns nationally.
“We were up against the New Zealand’s biggest and most resourced news websites so for our campaign to feature amongst that company showed that we well and truly hit the mark and made a difference to our community.
“And, really, that’s what we’re all about.’’