The Courier honoured at Country Press NSW gala awards

The Courier has been honoured across editorial and advertising categories at the 2024 Country Press NSW awards.

Together, The Courier and its sister publication the Gunnedah Times, were the most successful publishing business at the annual gala celebration for the third consecutive year.

The Courier received the coveted Best News Coverage award for its series of articles on the proposed changes to pathology services at Narrabri Hospital. It was also awarded Best Front Page for its edition on June 4, 2024, titled ‘Bad Blood’.

“Great coverage of real community movement about this local health issue,” the judges’ report stated about The Courier’s pathology service reporting.

“A balance of detailed facts and narrative storytelling that demonstrates everything that is so powerful about a community newspaper.

“Clear well-written articles that told a powerful story about the impact people can make in their communities.

“I’m looking for stories that keep me engaged and wanting to know more and this one delivered amongst a field of very worthy competitors.”

Judges said The Courier’s winning front page clearly demonstrated the broad community concern in relation to the issue.

“The image treats the story and the participants with empathy and respect. The entire front page conveys the gravity and urgency of the situation. Hard news done well.”

The Courier received runner-up Best Sports Photograph of an image of Waldo Botha diving over the try-line at Dangar Park, captured by general manager/editor Dylan Smith, and titled ‘When Blue Boars fly’.

Runner-up Best House Advertisement was also presented to The Courier for its ‘Do you want us to put the kettle on’ promotion encouraging people to subscribe to the newspaper.

The Courier’s sister publication, the Gunnedah Times, was this year awarded Best Paid Newspaper, an accolade The Courier received in 2022 and 2023.

Editor Dylan Smith expressed his delight in the title staying within their group of North Western newspapers.

Gunnedah Times’ Sam Woods was awarded runner-up Journalist of the Year. The Gunnedah publication was also awarded Best Advertising Feature for its AgQuip 2023 lift-out.