Norske Skog Newspaper Advertising Awards Announced

PRESS STATEMENT

Monday 24 March 2003

Norske Skog Newspaper Advertising Awards Announced

The Wanganui Chronicle has won the Premier Award of the Norske Skog Newspaper Advertising Awards announced today at the newspaper industry annual conference in Auckland. The awards recognise excellence in newspaper advertising, marketing and promotion.

The winning advertisement had been entered by the Wanganui Chronicle in two categories, the newspaper marketing categories for copywriting and best use of colour. Awards were made in seven categories for newspapers divided into three bands based on circulation. On the judging panel this year were Chris Christensen, Convener of Judges, Mike Hutcheson, a Director of the Lighthouse Ideas Company, Paul White, Senior Lecturer at the AUT School of Communication Studies, Peter Aitken, Managing Director of Ford and Mazda New Zealand and Ross Foreman from Bayley’s Real Estate.

The awards are in their seventh year and are sponsored by Norske Skog Tasman Limited. The New Zealand Market Director of Norske Skog, Mr Willie Townend said "The Norske Skog Advertising Awards are a great opportunity for newspapers to display their skills and talents in promotion, marketing and advertising in New Zealand. Norske Skog is proud to be associated with a competition that has excellent support from the industry and where the winners have once again demonstrated a high level of achievement".

The Chief Executive of the Newspaper Publishers’ Association, Mr Lincoln Gould said " All newspapers recognise the increasing importance of effective marketing and promotion. Newspapers continue to look for new and better ways to communicate with our customers for the benefit of both our readers and those who invest their advertising dollars in newspapers. The assistance of Norske Skog in furthering this work is invaluable."

ENDS

The full list of awards and judges comments on the award winners is attached to this press release.

2003 Norske Skog Newspaper Advertising Awards

LIST OF AWARDS

NORSKE SKOG PREMIER AWARD

WINNER: WANGANUI CHRONICLE FOR ON ROAD WANGANUI

The Judges commented:
This advertisement is clear proof that size isn’t everything, simplicity is a virtue and success is not determined by dollars spent.

NORSKE SKOG PREMIER AWARD FINALISTS

Wanganui Chronicle for On Road Wanganui
(Winner, Best Use of Colour, Copywriting 10,000-25,000)

The New Zealand Herald for Primary Schools Programme
The New Zealand Herald for College Herald
(Joint Winners, Community Promotions over 25,000)

The Dominion and The Evening Post for Letterbox Promotion
(Winner, Newspaper Marketing – Revenue Generation over 25,000)

AWARD CATEGORIES

Newspaper Marketing - House Advertising

Up to 10,000

Commended: Whakatane Beacon for Friday Real Estate Section

10,000 to 25,000

Winner: The Northern Advocate for Lunchtime Read
Campaign

The Judges commented:

The Northern Advocate’s ‘Lunchtime Read Campaign’ with its strong layouts and captions makes the earlier distribution time a good reason to purchase.

Commended: Wanganui Chronicle for “Giving You More to Read
About”

Over 25,000

Winner: The Dominion Post for The Dominion Post Launch

The Judges commented:

The Dominion Post’s ‘Making Twice the Noise’ caption is graphically supported with eye-catching illustrations and convincing argument.

Newspaper Promotions - Revenue Generation

Up to 10,000

Commended: Whakatane Beacon for Valentine’s Day Promotion

10,000 to 25,000

Winner: The Northern Advocate for 100 years of Front Page
News

The Judges commented:

A very high interest idea and very well presented. A publication that will have a long ‘shelf life’ and keep on working for The Northern Advocate.

Over 25,000

Winner: The Dominion and The Evening Post for Letterbox
Promotion

The Judges comments:
Their strategy was to provide a fun promotion to maintain circulation during a sensitive trading period. They succeeded and ensured lots of reader involvement and a high visibility campaign.

Best Use of Colour

Up to 10,000

Commended: Ashburton Guardian for Weddings

10,000 to 25,000

Winner: Wanganui Chronicle for On Road Wanganui

The Judges comments:

The Wanganui Chronicle demonstrates well how to use colour to gain attention and that ‘spot’ colour can be as effective as full colour.

Commended: The Marlborough Express for Fine Photos

Commended: The Nelson Mail for Down to Earth Garden Centre

Promotional Products

10,000 to 25,000

Winner: Bay of Plenty Times for 2003 Calendar Promotion

The Judges commented:
This is a category often dominated by expensive consumer products branded with newspaper logos. The Bay of Plenty Times have produced a very high quality promotional piece that reflects its place in the community and will no doubt be valued by the people of Tauranga long after December 31.

Community Promotions

10,000 to 25,000

Winner: The Marlborough Express for Road Safe
Marlborough

The Judges commented:

The Marlborough Express ‘Road Safety Programme’ is a text-book example of good advertising: - strong uncluttered layouts – attention grabbing illustrations and headlines that draw the reader right into the message ‘Drive Safely’.

Commended: Wanganui Chronicle for Ride in a Truck Day

Over 25,000

Joint Winners: The New Zealand Herald for Primary Schools
Programme

AND

The New Zealand Herald for College Herald

The Judges commented:

Both of these initiatives are very professional, very well thought through and well presented in every detail. They are community service programmes that have deservedly won the support of the schools, teachers and students.

Classified Advertising – General

10,000 to 25,000

Commended: The Nelson Mail for Welcome to Our World

Over 25,000

Commended: Hawke’s Bay Today for Mr Apple

Classified Advertising – Automotive

Up to 10,000

Commended: Whakatane Beacon for Wally Sutherland Limited

10,000 to 25,000

Winner: The Marlborough Express for Houston Motors

The Judges commented:
One of the fundamental advertising principles for gaining customer attention is ’news’. The Marlborough Express advertisement for Houston Motors creates its own news by tying in with a vineyard and exploits the event with a clever, creative concept.

Commended: The Nelson Mail for Bowater Toyota

Over 25,000

Commended: The Dominion Post for King Toyota

The Press for Gary Cockram Hyundai

The Southland Times for GWD Russells Ltd

Classified Advertising - Real Estate

10,000 to 25,000

Winner: Wanganui Chronicle for Coull Battell

The Judges commented:
Real estate advertising is too often restricted to price and product. But on this occasion Coull Battell decided to highlight their brand, their history and their integral place in the Wanganui real estate market. It is a strong message, well executed.

Over 25,000

Winner: The Dominion Post for Wrightway Homes

The Judges commented:
The headline says it all. People in this market could see at a glance what the proposition was and how they could become involved. Excellent layout and use of space.

Commended: The Southland Times for Michael Griffin and Harcourts

Copywriting

10,000 to 25,000

Winner: Wanganui Chronicle for On Road Wanganui

The Judges commented:
The Judges’ appreciated the Wanganui Chronicle’s succinct, simple and straight-to-the-point product offer advertisement for On Road Wanganui.

Display Advertising – Features

Up to 10,000

Winner: The Greymouth Evening Star for West Coast Holiday Guide

The Judges commented:
The ‘West Coast Holiday Guide’ is everything it claims to be – a holiday guide with area maps and an abundance of tourist information. A top quality publication.

Commended: Ashburton Guardian for Weddings

10,000 to 25,000

Winner: Manawatu Standard for Our Place, Our People

The Judges commented:
Entries in this category have put an emphasis on quality – both in editorial content and presentation. ‘Our Place, Our People is a strong example of a newspaper feature that will be kept for its quality historical content and editorial presentation.

Commended: Manawatu Standard for Raw

Manawatu Standard for Sharp

Over 25,000

Commended: Hawke’s Bay Today for Hawke’s Bay Wine Country

Display Advertising – Retail

10,000 to 25,000

Commended: The Timaru Herald for Ballentynes

Over 25,000

Winner: Otago Daily Times for Nichols

The Judges commented:
The Otago Daily Times advertisment for Nichols’ is headed “Hooked on Roses” – it not only parades Nichols’ stock of roses but also includes valuable advice and information. Any rose buff would be hooked into reading and re-reading this advertisement.

Commended: The Press for the BBQ Factory

The Dominion Post for Inhabit Designstore

Display Advertising – Commercial Promotion

Up to 10,000

Commended: Whakatane Beacon for Holden Scramble

10,000 to 25,000

Winner: Manawatu Standard for Stylex Print

The Judges’ commented:
Raymond and his team at Stylex Print demonstrate that a teaser campaign based on the product and its services is still a very effective communication tool.

Commended: The Marlborough Express for Red Devils Battle on
Trafalgar

The Marlborough Express for Red Devil Player /
Supporter Promotion

Bay of Plenty Times for Bella Vista Lodge

Over 25,000

Winner: The Dominion Post for Wellington Brewing Company

The Judges commented:
Who says ‘people don’t read long copy’? The Dominion Post’s display advertisement for Wellington Brewing Company has all the ingredients to involve the reader with interesting photographs and informative copy.

Commended: The Southland Times for South Port New Zealand

ENDS

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