It’s official – the Pakenham-Berwick Gazette is still Australia’s best community newspaper.
The Gazette was judged Best Newspaper in its category (under 30,000 circulation) at the 2016 Community Newspapers of Australia awards in Melbourne on Friday 23 June.
Reporter Russell Bennett also picked up the award for Best Sports Story for his article on the Catani Football Club celebrating the anniversary of its survival.
Judges said the Gazette provided a great template for newspapers across the nation.
“Many community newspapers have lost their individual flavour, but not this publication,” the judges said.
“There were so many stories packed into one edition – and so many engaging columns and elements.”
The judges said they were immediately touched by the images and text on page one and very satisfied with the depth of the Anzac coverage once inside.
They said the use of graphics, historic photographs and page furniture showed imagination, care and planning.
“The well-written articles had deep local links, which is important to engage loyal readership, and ultimately, an advertiser-base that looks no further than the local paper in which to spruik its services.
“From rural readers to coastal Tooradin, the people of Pakenham are being directly and maturely addressed by the Gazette – a great template for other community newspapers.”
Russell Bennett’s report focused on a reunion with a difference at Catani.
Football clubs usually celebrate premierships, but this time the club marked the special occasion of when it moved from West Gippsland to the Ellinbank league, which is now acknowledged as being a key it its survival.
The judges described it as “a really interesting story, and one of great relevance to the local community”.
“It captures well a moment of significance in a country town that would be overlooked by the broader media, recording a decision that had a positive impact on the culture and identity of Catani,” they said.
