Fairfax Media clean up at Awards

Fairfax Media clean up at the Qantas Media Print Awards

Fairfax Media’s commitment to excellence was highlighted by winning a raft of top awards at the 2006 Qantas Media Print Awards on Friday night.

Fairfax Media publications won 43 awards in total, including a clean sweep of the showpiece awards.

The Press in Christchurch led the way, winning the supreme award for Best Newspaper in New Zealand, Best Newspaper with a circulation over 25,000 and Best Newspaper Investigation, and was joined by the Sunday Star-Times, which won Best Weekly Newspaper.

Fairfax reporting staff also scooped many of the top individual awards including the prestigious Best Reporter for the Sunday Star-Times’ Tony Wall, and Newspaper Feature Writer of the Year for Tim Hume, also of the Sunday Star-Times.

Fairfax Media’s excellence in many categories was recognised with awards for the arts, health and IT sections of the Dominion Post, food and motoring for The Press, and best business section for the Sunday Star-Times.

The success of Fairfax Media publications is an affirmation of the high quality publications that Fairfax Media staff produce, says Chief Executive Officer Joan Withers.

“Winning so many awards is a reflection of the passion that Fairfax Media and all its employees have for producing the highest quality product.

“In a changing media landscape it is important for us to be progressive and innovative while exceeding our readers’ expectations. I believe our tremendous success in these awards is recognition among our peers that we are achieving this goal.”

The Sunday Star-Times won 16 awards in a variety of categories, from Maori Issues to Editorial Writer of the Year and Best Newspaper Front Page.

In total The Press received 11 awards, including a supreme overall award, four awards for its columnists and one for the best newspaper investigation.

The Dominion Post collected nine awards, The Waikato Times four awards, and the Southland Times, The Sunday News and the Taranaki Daily News one award each.

The overall success of all Fairfax Media publications cements its place as the premier media provider in New Zealand.

The Qantas Media Print Awards are in their 33rd year and recognise excellence in the print media.

Ends

AWARDS

The Press

Category Winner

 Best New Zealand Newspaper
 Best Daily Newspaper over 25 000
 Best Newspaper Investigation

Sub Category Winners

Reporter  Government, Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs: Colin Espiner
Columnist  Art: Christopher Moore
 Humour: Joe Bennett
 Motoring: Dave Moore
 Tourism & Travel: Mike Crean
Best Newspaper Specialist page or section  Food & Nutrition
 Motoring
 Other, How the Press Works

The Sunday Star-Times

Category Winners

 Best Weekly Newspaper
 Best Newspaper Front Page
 Best Reporter (Senior)
Tony Wall
 Newspaper Feature Writer
Senior: Tim Hume
Junior: Tim Hume
 Columnist
Finlay Macdonald
 Editorial Writer
Anthony Hubbard
 Best Newspaper Heading
Maria Hoyle

Sub Category Winners

Newspaper Feature Writer  Arts: Steve Braunias
 Government, Diplomacy Foreign Affairs: Tim Hume
 Health & Medicine: Anthony Hubbard
Reporter  Maori Issues: Tara Ross
Magazine Feature Writer  Arts: Grant Smithies
 Human Relations: Veronica Schmidt
Columnist  General: Finlay Macdonald
Best Newspaper Specialist page or section  Business

The Waikato Times

Winners

Best Newspaper Poster
Photography
 Best Single Feature Picture: Iain McGregor
 Best Junior Portfolio of Six Photos: Kelly Schicker
Sub Category Winners

Newspaper Feature Writer  Science and Technology: Susan Pepperell

The Southland Times

Sub Category Winners

Columnist  Sport and Racing: Karen Porter

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