THE Namoi Valley Independent has been highlighted at the Country Press NSW awards.
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The paper won a certificate of merit in the EC Sommerlad Memorial Award for Journalism in the bi-weekly category.
The NVI was also commended in the DIC Award for Advertising Ideas for its 2013 Tucker magazine.
The judge’s comments said the art direction and design of Tucker were of a “fittingly high standard”.
“The layout, photography and typography all work together to create a fresh, contemporary, sophisticated, yet down-to-earth feel that reflects the character of the region and the stories presented in the magazine,” judge Brian Daly wrote.
“The art direction was a stand-out amongst all the entries in this category.”
The winner of the category was Live and Learn Locally, a publication by The Courier.
The NVI also received a mention for its Find Us on Facebook campaign.
“It is commendable to see The Independent take steps to bridge the tech gap with this campaign, and to deliver a benefit to both consumers and businesses who are already active in the digital space,” the judge said.
Other mentions for the Independent included ads for Karen Carter Chemist and Gunnedah Automotive.
Graham Gorrel also mentioned the NVI in his judging for the Australia Post Award for Feature Writing.
“This newspaper never disappoints,” he said.
“Its history of creative writing was again displayed with a number of articles leading into Anzac Day about the war-time experiences of local people, but the single entry by Ashley Gardner about a family’s battle living with dementia was not only poignant but appropriate at a time when national importance increases to combat this disease.”
In the iSentia Award for Local News Reporting, judge Mal Kearney noted: “A bikie gang bust in Gunnedah is news to yank the country town into the capital city Big Time.
“The Independent was there shutter-snapping and note-taking as leather-jacketed suspects were patted down and spread-eagled on the clubhouse lawn.
“Newspaper deadlines in larger centres mean such coverage is usually confined to mop-ups, but this put readers on the street across from the event.”