General News
23 November, 2022
Your stories are tops
Major awardsat newspapershowcaseBy CHRIS EARLTHANK YOU! Every week, your Loddon Herald is honoured and humbled to share your local stories, capturing life in our local communities. To us, every story and every photograph is important and contributing...
Major awards
at newspaper
showcase
By CHRIS EARL
THANK YOU! Every week, your Loddon Herald is honoured and humbled to share your local stories, capturing life in our local communities.
To us, every story and every photograph is important and contributing to recording tomorrow’s history today.
The Victorian Country Press Association held its annual conference and awards dinner in Melbourne this month.
We were thrilled for every reader, every community, every advertiser of the local newspaper you support and hopefully enjoy, was recognised with three major awards and commended in other sections.
These awards were for just a few stories - to us every story you allow the Loddon Herald to share is a winner.
Our industry awards and the recent Rural Press Club Media Outlet of the Year honour are recognition not of the Loddon Herald but of, and for, the Loddon communities.
BEST COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN
Pools in Crisis
The judge said: The Loddon Herald has captured well community frustration around inadequate access to local pools over the summer season. The paper stayed in touch with pool users, and with the council-appointed contractor, to highlight the inadquacy of current arrangements. This was no doubt an issue close to the five communities affected and the Herald’s coverage demonstrated its alignment to its readers.
BEST SPORTS STORY
Footy’s Next Gen
The judge said: It was interesting that the topics – hard news, personal drama and profiles - highlighted the great diversity of stories to be found in the sports pages. Plenty of names and photos gave the winner the slight edge. Full marks to Chris Earl for his “Footy’s Next Gen” three-page feature in the Loddon Herald highlighting the promising next generation of young local footballers and moves by Loddon Valley to re-establish third tier sides. Excellent interviews with a number of coaches highlighted the contribution youngsters are making, and the development opportunities provided with appearances in the senior grades. The well-researched article was complemented by relevant action and profile photographs.
BEST PHOTO STUDY
Shearing Shed Alf
The judge said: The section was won by a situational portrait which was beautifully shot taking advantage of the warm, natural light in an old shearing shed. Sometimes photographs can be elegant in their simplicity. This Loddon Herald photo study remembers a big day in history - the October 1957 day Kevin Sarre set a new one day shearing record. Some 64 years later Alf Parsons who was there in 1957 to witness the great feat visited the shearing shed before it was (shearing equipment) dismantled to be moved to a display and replaced by a more modern facility. Photographer Chris Earl’s simple photograph captures late morning light highlighting the textures and colours of the shed with Alf proudly in front of property owners and family.
HIGHLY COMMENDED - BEST NEWS STORY
Picky Whacks
The judge said: Journalist, Chris Earl localised a common flaw in the previously-mandated COVID-safe plans. Importantly, Chris took a proactive approach to make the situation better by using constructive criticism. Fantastic headline.
COMMENDED - BEST NEWS PHOTOGRAPH
Our Active Crew
The judge said: Loddon Herald Chris Earl photographer adds some action to what could have been a mundane photograph of organisers of a local Active Farmers’ Run for Resilience launch. The addition of perfectly framed hats in the air adds interest to the image in another example of the necessary skill of regional newspaper photographers to turn
everyday photos into an opportunity to make an image “less ordinary”.
COMMENDED - BEST EDITORIAL VIDEO
Federal Election Night 2022
The judge said: A solid entry. The key to this video was the live delivery when events were still unfolding. Some good insights and stories from across the day.