The Journal series of newspapers has been named top free weekly newspaper at the Newsquest-Gannett Editors’ Conference for the second year running.

The three-edition newspaper includes the wholly paid-for Cotswolds edition and Evesham and Stratford editions, which are mainly free delivery. They impressed the judges with their community involvement.

The judging panel said the papers showed “you don’t have to sacrifice quality, high design values and good use of colour because you are a free newspaper”.

Editor Liz Griffin told her readers: “We are proud and honoured to have won this award twice. It is a tribute to the great team working for the journal, producing good papers week-in and week-out.”

At the same event Journal photographer Stuart Purfield was named runner-up in the Photographer of the Year category.

He was praised for making the best use of limited opportunities, and judges singled out his pictures of the Shakespeare birthday celebrations.

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