Times-Age a double awards finalist

The Wairarapa Times-Age is a finalist for Newspaper of the Year (up to 30,000 circulation) and also has a finals berth for Best Newspaper Design. FILE PHOTO

The Wairarapa Times-Age is a double finalist in the Canon Media Awards for its coverage, design, outstanding circulation increase and readership growth.

The Canon Media Awards are New Zealand's national premier award for media, covering newspapers, magazines and websites, saluting the working of journalists, photographers, editors and designers during 2014.

The Times-Age is a finalist for Newspaper of the Year (up to 30,000 circulation), alongside the Manawatu Standard, Taranaki Daily News and Rotorua Daily Post.

It also has a finals berth for Best Newspaper Design, alongside the Taranaki Daily News and heavyweights The New Zealand Herald and The Herald on Sunday.

Times-Age editor Andrew Bonallack and general manager Andrew Denholm said they could not be prouder of the Times-Age team and the paper, which had already achieved the highest circulation increase for a newspaper in New Zealand in 2014, as well as increased readership.

"Despite being one of the smallest dailies in New Zealand, we stand alongside giants like the NZ Herald in demonstrating the worth and esteem of a provincial daily," said Mr Bonallack.

He said their entries placed marked emphasis on the growth of the paper, substantial election coverage during 2014, including an election poll and candidates debate, and bold redesigns on the front page for topboxes and weekend mastheads.

Mr Denholm said the Canon Awards are the "Oscars" of the newspaper industry. "To be a finalist, particularly when we're up against bigger and better resourced newsrooms, is a testament to the editorial team and I'm incredibly proud of them," he said.