Regional publisher Archant has honoured its champions at its annual company-wide awards scheme.

Among the winners were newspaper sales manager Mervyn Freeman, who once brought in three front page stories in the same week last summer, and assistant editor photography Sean Samuels from its ‘Specialist’ division.

Eleven different editorial and commercial awards were handed out at a company-wide ceremony on Friday in London which featured around 160 winners from each of Archant’s different divisions.

Chief executive Adrian Jeakings told the ceremony that progress made by the company over the past year was due in large part to its staff.

“Whilst the impact of the recession is far from over, it is already clear that Archant has made great progress during 2009,” he said.

“We have launched new products and services, including new newspapers, websites and ground-breaking mobile sites.

“This year we will build on the foundations laid in 2009. We will ramp up our investment in business development and will be launching more new products and services.

“But none of this is possible without the people of Archant who, day in day out, work across the country to make us the company we are today. To my mind they are the best people in the industry.”

Some of the 2009 winners:

Editorial Person of the Year
Sean Samuels, assistant editor photography/web editor imaging, Archant Specialist

Innovation or New Launch of the Year
EDP Future 50 – Archant Norfolk

Product or Service of the Year
The English Home magazine, Archant Specialist

Unsung Hero of the Year
Mervyn Freeman, outdoor newspaper sales manager, Archant Norfolk

Comments

biter (26/01/2010 14:44:23)
Sad reflection on the times we live in when a non-reporter brings in three front page stories and wins an award for it.

Realist (26/01/2010 16:15:33)
What is really sad is your narrow-minded attitude. Mervyn is obviously a great contact for any open-minded reporter.

James (26/01/2010 17:24:24)
When is Archant going to stop the spin and admit that its senior management has lost control? This is down to an historic lack of investment in both staff and emerging technologies.
If Archant actually invested in credible journalism instead of expecting reps and members of the public to supply its content, the company would probably be in a far better position despite the recession.

thejudge (26/01/2010 17:40:08)
Guy’s,
Newspaper Sales has and always will (At least if you do not work for Johnston Press)be part and parcel of any good Editorial Department so use the experience of these people well. Them and us is an old fashioned view and above all Mervyn Freeman did not write the story he just brought in the leads. Anything stopping reporters doing the same? Well done Big Merv.