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Newspaper staff celebrate

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Newspaper staff around the country are celebrating after scooping prizes at the first Archant Awards.

An audience of around 1,300 employees, guests and sponsors saw staff, publications and products from the company scoop prizes in the competition.

All the winners were announced during a glittering awards night at the Alexandra Palace in north London, which was hosted by BBC One’s Ten O’Clock News anchorman Michael Buerk.

The newsreader presented each of the 16 main category winners with their trophies and during his speech he also revealed that he had applied for jobs three times on Archant daily newspapers, only to be rejected every time.

The night saw editorial, advertising, pre-press and distribution staff collect awards, with the Newham Recorder’s Tracey Mullins being named Journalist of the Year.

Among the other editorial awards handed out was the Paid For Archant Regional Publication of the Year, which went to the East Anglian Daily Times, and the Free Archant Regional Publication of the Year, which was awarded to the Hunts Post.


  • Hunts Post editor Paul Richardson receives his trophy from Michael Buerk and Archant financial director Adrian Jeakings.
  • Another winner on the night was Weston & Somerset Mercury reporter Kelly Crane, (below), who was joint winner of the company’s own Pop Idol contest, singing Get Happy to the crowd on the night.


    For a list of editorial winners and finalists, click here.

  • National children’s charity NCH received £10,000 thanks to Michael Buerk, who donated his entire appearance fee for hosting the awards to the charity.