Newspapers and journalists from the Western Plains racked up the awards at last week’s Country Press NSW Awards of Excellence. 

Among the winners were Coonabarabran Times, Coonamble Times and journalist Emily Middleton who was crowned Young Journalist of the Year for her work at The Gilgandra Weekly. 

“There’s just something really special about regional communities and rural stories because there’s such a beautiful community aspect you don’t get in metro stories,” Emily Middleton said. 

After securing Best Young Journalist only four years into her career and making a recent move to ABC Western Plains, Ms Middleton said that her respect for regional news has only grown. 

“I don’t think I could go back to the city…When I came to Gil I truly had no idea what I was doing, but the Gilgandra Weekly boss has instilled this kind of passion and love for regional communities.”

“I’m really happy with where I am at the moment in terms of covering regional and local news because I think that’s just as important,” she said. 

Best Young Journalist 2023 Emily Middleton with her former employer Lucie Peart of The Gilgandra Weekly. (Supplied)

Love for local media flows

At the 123rd edition of the oldest recognised press awards in Australia, the celebration of local country media ran across the district. 

Coonamble’s 138 year old masthead Coonamble Times won Best Online/Digital Presence, was Runner Up for Best Sports Photograph, their cadet Liam Mulhall was Highly Commended in the Young Journalist category.

They were also recognised with a Highly Commended in the most prestigious Best Paid Newspaper category behind the Gunnedah Times (Runner Up) and The Courier in Narrabri (Winner).

The Coonamble Times team Lee O'Connor, Liam Mulhall, Angie O'Connor and Maddison Pawley were excited with their prizes.

Coonabarabran’s Coonabarabran Times also raked in the awards, nabbing Best Special Publication for their magazine Wattle 2.0 and Best Print Advertisement.

The newspaper also achieved a highly commended for Best Sports Photograph and Best Front Page. 

Lynne Estens accepted the awards on behalf of the Coonabarabran Times team.

The recognition of work from Western Plains-based newspapers comes despite the growing competition, with Country Press NSW membership having grown by 25 per cent this year.

At the organisations’ AGM, The Gilgandra Weekly’s Lucie Peart was returned as President.

Ms Peart said Country Press NSW would continue to present a unified regional newspaper industry to State and Federal Governments, and local councils.