2024 CPNSW Awards of Excellence

October 23, 2024 | Our events

Dylan Smith, Ian and Wanda Dunnet, and CPNSW president Lucie Peart. The Dunnet's were presented with the CPNSW Appreciation Award for Conscientious Service to Country Newspapers at this year's awards dinner.

The 2024 Country Press NSW Annual Conference and Awards Dinner has been a resounding success, with 106 members, sponsors and guests attending the regional event in Dubbo from Thursday, October 17 to Friday, October 18.

Several newspapers walked away from the event with prestigious awards to show for their efforts over the past year.

President Lucie Peart, of Gilgandra Newspapers, was re-elected unanimously at the annual general meeting to lead the organisation for an eighth term. She received a special award from the membership for her outstanding work over many years to rebuild Country Press NSW Inc. 

Also at the annual general meeting, Edward Higgins, Mid-West Media, was elected vice-president. 

Recently retired Narrabri publishers, Wanda and Ian Dunnet (The Courier) were also awarded the Conscientious Service to Country Newspapers. 

The awards dinner was held at Dubbo RSL Club. Guests were asked to dress in their best ‘Dub-Vegas’ attire, including colourful feather boas, and sparkling sequin dresses. 

At the awards dinner, the major guest of honour, minister for agriculture, regional NSW and western NSW, the Hon Tara Moriarty MLC, delivered an address on the NSW government’s commitment to the regional newspaper industry, to be delivered through a $3 million second package of the Regional Media Fund. 

Other invited guests attending the dinner were federal member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, National MLC Sam Farraway, Labor MLC Stephen Lawrence, National MLC Sarah Mitchell, and Jamie Chaffey (Country Mayors Association and Nationals candidate for Parkes). 

2024 Country Press NSW Awards of Excellence 

The 2024 Awards of Excellence, which received a 25 per cent increase in entries this year, was again the feature event for most attending newspapers.   

Editorial Awards

Best Front Page Under 700 Copies Weekly: Tumbarumba Times (winner), Grenfell Record (runner-up).

Best Front Page Over 700 Copies Weekly: The Courier (winner), Riverine Grazier (runner-up). 

Best News Story: Riverine Grazier (winner), The Bugle (runner-up). 

Best News Coverage: The Courier (winner), Coonabarabran Times (runner-up).

Best Editorial Column: Tony Bosworth, West Wyalong Advocate. 

Photography Awards

Best Human-Interest Photograph: Wellington and District Leader (winner), Riverine Grazier (runner-up).

Best News Photograph: Wellington and District Leader (winner), Coonabarabran Times (runner-up). 

Best Sports Photograph: Parkes Champion Post (winner), The Courier (runner-up).     

Sport Awards

Best Sports Story: The Gilgandra Weekly (winner), Deniliquin Pastoral Times (runner-up). 

Best Sports Coverage: Dubbo Photo News (winner), Cowra Guardian (runner-up). 

Advertising Awards

Best House Advertisement: Young Witness (winner), The Courier (runner-up). 

Best Print Advertisement: Riverine Grazier and Dubbo Photo News (equal winners). 

Best Advertising Feature: Gunnedah Times (winner), Cobar Weekly (runner-up). 

Best New Advertising Product: Deniliquin Pastoral Times. 

Journalist Awards

Young Journalist of the Year: Lily Plass, Coonamble Times (winner), Cara Kemp, Cowra Guardian (runner-up). 

Journalist of the Year: Sharon Bonthuys, Narromine Star (winner), Sam Woods, Gunnedah Times (runner-up). 

Overall Excellence Awards

Best Technical Innovation: Cobar Weekly. 

Best Special Publication: Riverine Grazier (winner), Southern Riverina News (runner-up). 

Best Small Publisher: Narromine Star (winner), Tumbarumba Times (runner-up).   

Best Paid Newspaper: Gunnedah Times (winner), Coonamble Times (runner-up). 

Best Free Newspaper: Dubbo Photo News (winner), Hunter River Times and The Bugle (equal runner-up).