The Southern Argus team came home with a number of awards following newspapers’ night of nights held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday.
After only one year with new ownership, The Argus placed runner-up for Best Newspaper Under 4000 Circulation at the Country Press SA 2021 Awards ceremony.
The annual awards saw a healthy attendance exceeding 110 guests.
The team was thrilled to bag Best Headline, with entry ‘Show us your ticks’ impressing judge Ross McPherson.
“This edgy headline was embraced by both the paper and a local pub in a mini-campaign to urge patrons to bring their proof of vaccination after plain-clothes police started visiting hospitality venues,” the judge’s comments read.
“It was a provocative but fun way to deliver an important message – and it is the kind of headline that people laugh and talk about!”
The Argus also brought home Best House Advertisement by way of a strong testimonial from Strath Seafood.
“The content of the advertisement is short, sharp and straight to the point,” judge Greg Herrick said.
“Congratulations to The Southern Argus team for producing a great house advertisement that ticks all the boxes.”
The Argus also placed third in Best Advertising Feature for an Anzac Day spread; Editor Sara Gilligan took out third in Best News Photograph featuring a local cattle farmer and Rowan Sims achieved third spot in the Best Sports Photograph category capturing local football action.
Editor Sara Gilligan also placed third in Excellence in Journalism for work on a homelessness expose, second in Editorial Writing and received a special mention in Best Community Profile for a tribute to a local bowel cancer victim.
Genuine delight was felt across the room when The Southern Argus was called throughout the night, along with surprise, as the masthead has been absent from the awards for several years.
Sister paper The Leader also achieved much success on the night, winning Best Advertisement Image/Branding, Best Advertising Feature, Best Photograph, Best Community Profile, Best Road Safety Reporting and Editor Tony Robinson was crowned Best Editorial writer.
The Leader team also placed second in the Best Supplement category with the Barossa Mag and third in Best Advertisement Priced Product.
Country Press SA President, Darren Robinson emceed the event, and male singing group ‘The 60 Four’ provided live entertainment.
Andrew Manuel, President of Country Press Australia, was also made a life member of the CPSA association.
SA Premier Steven Marshall spoke during the evening and thanked all involved in the regional press industry.
“I do want to acknowledge in its 110th year of Country Press SA the great contribution of journalists and mastheads right across the state,” he said.
“Congratulations to Country Press SA and I congratulate all those people nominated for an award and I want to thank all those journalists in the room for choosing journalism… and are helping to get the message out and keep our state safe.”
Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas similarly praised the role of Country Press SA.
“Instrumental to the facilitation of liberal democracy is the importance of the fourth state, and that is particularly true in regional South Australia,” he said.
“Newspapers bring communities together… provide an invaluable service of keeping people informed and just as important, connected.”
