Two journalists who quit their jobs to launch a new regional title have won their fifth business award since its foundation.

The West Dorset Magazine has been named overall winner at the West Dorset Gold awards, following similar victories at local business awards in Dorchester and Bridport.

Founders Miranda Robertson and Karen Bate beat a total of 491 entries to win the prize.

Miranda and Karen resigned from their posts as editor and news editor respectively at The New Blackmore Vale to launch the title in February 2022.

From left: Gary Hales, from Action Coach, Bob Holman, Bird Media co-directors Karen Bate and Miranda Robertson, advertising sales director Laura McManus and cartoonist Lyndon Wall

At the magazine, they are aided by advertising sales director Laura McManus and cartoonist Lyndon Wall, who was a recent runner-up in Political Cartoonist of the Year.

Miranda’s father Bob Holman, 78, also sells advertising for the title.

Miranda told HTFP: “Karen and I were stunned to win, considering how much competition there was.

“It’s deeply heartening how we’ve been clasped to the collective bosoms of people in West Dorset and now in Weymouth and Portland too.

“From feedback received at shows we have attended, what people seem to like is the very Dorset voice of our magazine, the gentle humour and the attention to detail.

“People adore our cartoons – they are usually based on a classic sitcom but involve one or two local stories.

“Winning a business award – our fifth – feels strange as we have had such a steep learning curve as a pair of old hacks with no business experience. However our revenue keeps growing due to the popularity of the magazine and we are on track.

“It’s really, really hard to sell advertising space at the moment and so many regional magazines are closing. So we are doubly proud to be one of the rare publications on the up.”