Proud. Bloody proud.
That’s how Ashburton Guardian colleagues Simon Bell and Sonia Gill and I felt when our punch-above-its-weight little paper hit new heights at the prestigious New Zealand journalism awards in Auckland on Saturday.
Before 600 guests, all dressed in their finest, we were thrilled to represent the Guardian and Mid Canterbury and be there when it was named runner-up in the Community Newspaper of the Year category and also a finalist in the best campaign category at the Voyager Media Awards.
In the campaign category, which recognised our resoundingly successful shop smart, shop local project, we rubbed shoulders with entries from media superpowers Stuff and NZME, with all their advantages in resources and personnel.
Those big players predictably dominated the black-tie function, but not before we made our mark, being the only community newspaper to make two finals.
Yes, the only one, which is no mean feat.
The number of media onlookers at Saturday’s function who congratulated us on our efforts – including, no less, than broadcast reporter of the year and media A-lister Tova O’Brien – showed just what wider impact that had on the most discerning of audiences.
“People are talking about the Guardian. They know what it means for a small independent to do so well,’’ former Guardian editor and now Voyager judge, Coen Lammers, said at the function.
Those comments illustrated, and reminded us, just what value we provide you, our readers, and our ever-supportive advertisers.
Yes, there are two community newspapers in Ashburton, but I don’t think there’s any doubt about the clear edge we have in quality and community connection, something which has been built up over 143 years. The New Zealand 2022 journalism award judges simply reinforced that belief.
Of particular delight was the acknowledgement of our shop local campaign because that was community journalism at its finest.
We stepped up for our local businesses in their time of need. Many were haemorrhaging after a two-year loss of revenue through Covid and the CBD upgrade, and we made a point of telling their stories and reminding the public how important they are to all of us. Because good papers do more than just report the news. Good papers stand up for their communities when it really matters.
The Ashburton Guardian is a good paper. Wrong. It’s a bloody special little paper and all of you help make that possible with your support, feedback and your involvement. Because the Ashburton Guardian is as much your paper as it is ours.
That’s why we made our mark in New Zealand journalism’s biggest night of the year on Saturday. It was very much a team and community effort.

• By Daryl Holden