The SE Voice has received recognition at this year’s Country Press SA awards, held in Victor Harbor on Friday night.
The independent Mount Gambier-based paper won the Best Advertisement – Priced Product category, the Best Photo section, came second in the Best Front Page award, was third in the Best House Advert category and received a special mention in the Best Advertising – Branding section.
Judges were particularly impressed with The SE Voice’s advertising team, all based in Mount Gambier.
The paper’s full page Christmas Wish List advertising campaign, published in the weeks leading up to Christmas, was described by judges as as “amazing full page advertisement that perfectly fits the criteria, it has impact straight away”.
“You want to look at it, you want to look at the products advertised, very easy on the eye and easy to follow, The SE Voice and the sales team are to be congratulated for coming up with a terrific concept, the graphic team are to be congratulated for the design, it has even space for the advertisers, the products advertised for each of those businesses are extremely clear and the light drop shadow behind each product gives it a real dimensional look, minimal wording with the right font used, this type of page allows all businesses big or small the opportunity to be part of an advertising campaign that is affordable leading into Christmas, to have the Christmas Wish list promotion run for 13 weeks is incredible, an absolute fantastic effort,” the judges said.
“This concept is a must for all newspapers to embrace.
“Congratulations to the team at The SE Voice on an innovative advertising/marketing campaign.”
The SE Voice was also recognised in the Best Photo category for its “City Streets Illuminated” image.
The judges said the photograph of a “new car at night in rain is exciting to view with its great contrasts and strange colours”.
“The rain would have created some anxiety for the photographer and balancing the bright headlights with the dark background was done very well.
“The depth of field is almost perfect, isolating the vehicle from the background quite well,” they judges said.
“Lighting works very well to bring the viewer’s attention to the face of the vehicle and the textural pavers create a lovely leading line from the front-of-frame to the subject.
“Other ambient lighting provides intriguing incidental highlights on the car’s body.”
The SE Voice submitted its front page from January 27, covering the Crater Lakes Fire, which was awarded second in the Best Front Page category.
The judges said the “truly great photo” by Tim Rosenthal showing an aircraft dumping fire retardant on an out of control fire dominated the front page.
“The page also features a separate news story which has been nicely differentiated from the fire story by a light blue screen isolating it without reducing the text’s readability.
“This entry was a very strong contender for first prize but lost a few points due to the distracting graphic elements placed on top of the photo,” the judges said.
“This is a great front page which could have benefited with a bit of tweaking of the text elements.”
Third place in the Best House Advertisement category was for The SE Voice’s advert published at the onset of winter, addressing a common and frustrating problem for advertisers who perceive letter-boxing to be more effective.
“The advantage of distributing via the newspaper is clearly stated with good colours, a strong image and great text,” judges said.
“The call to action is simple and easy.”
The SE Voice’s advertising campaign for the Kalangadoo Hotel was also recognised in the Best Advertising Branding section with a special mention.
These relatively small series of advertisements pack quite an impact in communicating the brand of the client.
Simple messages and images about the things people love about country pubs, are very effective in positioning the character of the client as top of mind,” judges said.
In other awards, Angaston’s The Leader was named Best Newspaper with a circulation greater than 4000, while Strathalbyn’s Southern Argus received the award for the paper with a circulation less than 4000.
Meanwhile, Member for Barker Tony Pasin has again presented one of the most coveted prizes in regional journalism.
Each year, Mr Pasin sponsors the Young Journalist of the Year prize at the Country Press Association of South Australia awards ceremony.
The 2023 winner is Giorgina McKay of the Southern Argus, Strathalbyn.
As in past years, Mr Pasin will arrange for the winner to spend a week in Canberra and gain experience in the Press Gallery and other aspects of political life in the national capital.
As Mr Pasin could not be present, Ms McKay received a commemorative plaque from the guest-of-honour Her Excellency the Governor of South Australia Frances Adamson.
