We have some great news to share: sunshinecoastnews.com.au has been named Best Online Publication at the annual Queensland Country Press Awards.
Despite only being up and running for six months, we took the top digital trophy for regional media at Friday night’s state event in Brisbane.
We also won the inaugural Award for Excellence in Digital Innovation, which recognised innovation in online news coverage, presentation and audience engagement.
The prestigious awards attracted more than 400 entries with strong submissions from 78 established and new mastheads.
The judges said sunshinecoastnews.com.au was “the complete package for a community online publication’’.
“While it provides a strong local news presence, it is more than an online news site. In simple terms, it is the complete package,’’ they said.
“It features a mix of local news, human interest features and stories about local news and entertainment.
“The layout is easy to navigate, and the teaser titles invite the reader to find out more. The layout points the reader to the big story of the page through devices such as wide photos and full-width layouts for major features.’’
Our columnist Jane Stephens was honoured as runner-up in the award for Best Column and we also claimed a silver in the Best House Advertisement or Promotion for our launch campaign for sunshinecoastnews.com.au.
Our sister publication My Weekly Preview kept the success coming by taking home the Best Free Newspaper Award.
It also won Best One-off Commercial Feature with “Operation Bounceback’’ and came runner up in Best Newspaper Regular Commercial Feature with My Renovation.
Sunshinecoastnews.com.au Editor Peter Hall said the Best Online Publication and Excellence in Digital Innovation titles were significant honours and showed that free and independent journalism could not only survive, but thrive.
He thanked the site’s growing number of passionate contributors, readers, subscribers and advertisers for their support and encouragement.
“Our promise six months ago was to inform, connect and celebrate the Sunshine Coast and we have made a good start.
“We only have a small team, but it is wonderfully supported by our colleagues at My Weekly Preview, Salt Magazine and Your Time.
“We are also buoyed by the support of the community and cannot thank enough our amazing columnists, photographers, journalism student contributors from USC, letter writers, business networks, schools, sporting associations and other interest groups.’’
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