The Oxford Times was named Paid-for Weekly Newspaper of the Year at the Weekly Newspaper Awards.
The judges felt the newspaper was an “unbeatable package” that showed “value for money”. They also noted the publication’s redesign and its circulation.
Kent on Sunday won the Free Weekly Newspaper of the Year category. Judges said the publication was a “fantastic free paper” and a “good all round package”.
Tindle Newspapers’ chairman Sir Ray Tindle’s long press career was acknowledged with the presentation of the Clacksons’ Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Weekly Newspaper Industry.
Sir Ray, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, could not attend the ceremony but sent a letter of acceptance saying he was honoured to receive the award.
The News Guardian, Whitley Bay, also had a good night. The paper won Best Free Weekly Newspaper in North West, North East and Yorkshire and picked up a certificate of Certificate of Merit in the special award Free Weekly Newspaper of the Year. Its photographer Gemma Marriner won Best Photographer from a free weekly newspaper.
Other highlights among the winners from the evening included:
David Newell, director of The Newspaper Society, said: “The Weekly Newspaper Awards offer the opportunity to highlight the vibrant and creative work of the UK’s local weekly press. It was good to see the awards so well supported this year with the event selling out in record time.”
Newspaper Community Award (Paid for weekly newspapers)
Winner Melton Times
Highly Commended: Romford Recorder
Certificate of Certificate of Merit: Weston & Somerset Mercury
‘Weston Super Kids Appeal’
Newspaper Community Award (Free weekly newspapers)
Winner Sutton Coldfield Observer
Highly Commended Aberdeen Independent
‘Teen Times/Primary Times’
Certificate of Merit Bromley Extra
Newspaper campaigning award (Paid for weekly newspapers)
Winner Rotherham Advertiser
‘Save Our Millers’
Highly Commended Stroud News & Journal
‘Hands off our Hospitals’
Certificate of Merit Maidenhead Advertiser
‘The Great Debate Campaign’
Certificate of Merit North Shropshire Chronicle
Newspaper campaigning award (Free weekly newspaper)
Winner Yellow Advertiser, Southend
‘Save Thorpe Bay School’
Highly Commended Formby Champion
Certificate of Merit Tameside Advertiser
‘Save Our Hospital Services’
Best News Journalist (Paid for weekly newspapers)
Winner Laura Sharpe, Accrington Observer
Highly Commended Jeni Harvey, Middleton Guardian
Highly Commended Peter Devine, Stockport Express
Certificate of Merit Richard Botley, North Shropshire Chronicle/Shrewsbury Chronicle
Best News Journalist (Free weekly newspapers)
Winner Craig Lewis, MK News
Highly Commended Martin Shaw, The Press, Dewsbury
Certificate of Merit Donna Marie MacAllister, Southport Champion
Best Feature Journalist (Paid for weekly newspapers)
Winner Reg Little, The Oxford Times
Highly Commended Paul Brackley, Hertfordshire Mercury
Certificate of Merit Kirsty Parkin, Kentish Express
Best Feature Journalist (Free weekly newspapers)
Winner Emily Retter, Sutton Coldfield Observer
Highly Commended Stephen Exley, Cambridge Crier
Certificate of Merit Steve Neale, Yellow Advertiser, Southend
Best Photographer (Paid for weekly newspapers)
Winner Stephen Garnett, Craven Herald & Pioneer
Highly Commended Geoff Fletcher, Newbury Weekly News
Highly Commended Stephen Cobb, West Sussex County Times
Certificate of Merit Chris Hill, Stockport Express
Certificate of Merit Gary Louth, Middleton Guardian
Certificate of Merit Helen Priest-James, Maidenhead Advertiser
Best Photographer (Free weekly newspapers)
Winner Gemma Marriner, News Guardian/News Post Leader/Morpeth Herald
Highly Commended Allan Williamson, Lichfield Mercury
Certificate of Merit Andrew Lambert, Stockport Times
Best paid for weekly newspaper in the South East, including Greater London
Winner The Oxford Times
Highly Commended Hemel Hempstead Gazette
Certificate of Merit The Reading Chronicle
Best free weekly newspaper in the South East, including Greater London
Winner Kent on Sunday
Highly Commended The Comet, Hertfordshire
Highly Commended Borehamwood & Elstree Times
Best paid for weekly newspaper in Wales and the South West
Winner Wiltshire Gazette and Herald
Highly Commended Western Gazette, Somerset & Dorset
Certificate of Merit Flintshire Chronicle
Best free weekly newspaper in Wales and the South West
Winner Bangor & Anglesey Mai)
Highly Commended Weston & Worle News
Certificate of Merit Clevedon Mercury
Best paid for weekly newspaper in the West and East Midlands and Eastern Region
Winner Tamworth Herald
Highly Commended Leek Post & Times
Certificate of Merit Shrewsbury Chronicle
Best free weekly newspaper in the West and East Midlands and Eastern Region
Winner Cambs Times
Highly Commended The Hunts Post
Certificate of Merit Newmarket Weekly News
Best paid for weekly newspaper in the North West, North East and Yorkshire
Winner Chester Chronicle
Highly Commended The Cumberland News
Certificate of Merit Bury Times
Certificate of Merit Macclesfield Express
Best free weekly newspaper in the North West, North East and Yorkshire
Winner News Guardian, Whitley Bay
Highly Commended News Post Leader
Certificate of Merit The Press, Dewsbury
Best paid for weekly newspaper in Scotland
Winner The Southern Reporter
Highly Commended Dunfermline Press
Certificate of Merit Wee County News
Best free weekly newspaper in Scotland
Winner East Kilbride Mail
Highly Commended Aberdeen Independent
Best paid for weekly newspaper in Northern Ireland
Winner Ulster Herald
Best free weekly newspaper in Northern Ireland
Winner South Belfast News
Special Awards – Paid for weekly newspaper of the year
Winner The Oxford Times
Highly Commended Wiltshire Gazette & Herald
Certificate of Merit The Southern Reporter
Special Awards – Free weekly newspaper of the year
Winner Kent on Sunday
Highly Commended Cambs Times
Certificate of Merit News Guardian
Clacksons’ special award for Outstanding Contribution to the Weekly Newspaper Industry
Winner Sir Ray Tindle CBE DL
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