- WEEKLIES COME IN FOR HIGH PRAISE -
SCOTTISH WEEKLY PRESS
ADVERTISING AWARDS CELEBRATE SUCCESS
With over 180 entries across 10 categories, the 2008 SNPA Scottish Weekly Press Advertising Awards accolade for Best Overall Advertisement was claimed by the Northern Times, at a celebratory lunch staged at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium on Thursday (15 May 2008).
Accepting the Award, Alison Cameron of the Northern Times had a chance to go track-side at Scotland's home of rugby. SNPA President Bill Laidlaw presented her with the overall winner's trophy and certificate. She also earned herself and her Scottish Provincial Press (SPP) colleagues a magnum of champagne.
All told, it was a good day for the Inverness-based publisher, which came away with eight wins and three runner-up prizes.
The winning entry had been submitted under the category of Best Supplement, a hotly contested class among Scotland's 130 local papers. SNPA director, Simon Fairclough, commented: "For its pictorial celebration of the natural heritage of Caithness and Sutherland, the Northern Times supplement was assessed as innovative as well as stunningly executed. The judges heaped praise on this one!" The EK Mail, published by Forth Independent Newspapers secured the runner's-up position with its celebration of East Kilbride's 60 years of success.
This year, the judging panel comprised: Newspaper Society marketing director, Robert Ray; former Barkers Scotland Recruitment managing director; Mary Lamond; and Scottish Parliament Media & Culture Cross Party Group convener, Cathy Peattie MSP.
The number of entries was up on last year by almost a fifth, with competition in the run-of-paper, client-led and non-client-led feature categories proving especially fierce. Entrants had been advised of the strict criteria against which their submissions would be assessed and the judges took their collective responsibility very seriously.
For RoP, the bread-and-butter category, Scottish & Universal (S&UN) title, the Stirling Observer, claimed a trophy for great use of a graphic device and its community focus.
SPP's Strathspey & Badenoch Herald scooped firsts for the Best Client and Non-Client-Led Awards. In each case, there was clear evidence of relevant support advertising and well-written editorial.
For Best Niche publication, S&UN's Irvine Herald secured first prize for its Ayrshire & Arran Visitor Guide. DNG Media's Annandale Observer came away with the runner-up award for a real one-off public safety guide to the demolition of the Chapelcross cooling towers.
The final category winner announced was for Best Cross Platform Solution, justly claimed by the Southern Reporter, a Johnston Press title.
In summing up this year's entries at the Awards lunch, Simon Fairclough said that the volume of entries was up and the standards of creative thinking, design and execution were to be commended. He added: "There's so much success among our local press which we need to highlight to media planners as well as to the wider creative community. The entries this year were terrific.
"What we're really hoping for over the coming year is to see more evidence of our titles pursuing cross platform and internet revenue-producing opportunities. We know there are some great examples, but they're just not being showcased."
RESULTS
The 2008 Scottish Weekly Press
Advertising & Commercial Awards
1. Best ROP Advertisement
Winner: Stirling Observer
Runner-up: Cumbernauld News & Kilsyth Chronicle
2. Best Classified Advertisement
Winner: Ross-shire Journal
Runner-up: Selkirk Weekend Advertiser
3. Best Classified Section
Winner: Banffshire Journal
Runner-up: Inverness Courier
4. Best Client-Led Advertisement Feature
Winner: Strathspey & Badenoch Herald
Runner-up: Banffshire Journal
5. Best Non-Client-led Advertisement Feature
Winner: Strathspey & Badenoch Herald
Runner-up: Kilmarnock Standard
Commended: Musselburgh News
6. Best Promotional House Ad/Campaign
Winner: Northern Scot Midweek Extra
Runner-up: Ross-shire Journal
Commended: The Berwick Advertiser
7. Best Supplement
Winner: Northern Times
Runner-up: EK Mail
Commended: Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
8. Best Niche Publication (stand alone or distributed with a newspaper)
Winner: Irvine Herald
Runner-up: Annandale Observer
9. Most Unusual and/or Successful Revenue-Producing Idea
Winner: Northern Times
Runner-up: Midlothian Advertiser
10. Best Cross Platform Solution
Winner: Southern Reporter
11.Overall Winner:
Winner: Northern Times
- ends -
For further information, please contact Simon Fairclough
t 0131 220 4353 m 07710 472731 e sfairclough@spef.org.uk
19 May 2008
