WELLS Voice, the free local newspaper for Wells and district, was Commended in the Hyperlocal Newspaper of the Year category at this year’s Newspaper Awards.
The awards winners were announced at a gala celebration attended by Wells Voice editor Andy Vallis and his wife Sally at Hilton London Bankside on April 2.
Seven titles had been shortlisted in the hyperlocal category from a record number of entries from around the UK.
The judges said of Wells Voice: “An attractive, well-designed publication packed with local news and advertising. A thriving hyperlocal with a strong voice.”
Andy said: “Wells Voice may not have won the award but I am immensely proud that it has been judged one of the best newspapers in the country. It has come a long way since I started it eight years ago and I am very grateful for all the help that I have had along the way.
“This is actually the third year in a row that Wells Voice has been shortlisted for the award so it is gratifying to have this indication that the quality is consistently high.”
The category Winner was The West Dorset Magazine, with Hackney Citizen Highly Commended. Other Commended titles were City Matters, The Bristol Cable, The Peckham Peculiar and The Worthing Journal.
In other categories, Joint Winners of the National Newspaper of the Year award were The Daily Telegraph and The Times, Regional Newspaper of the Year Winner was The Yorkshire Post, and Local Weekly Newspaper of the Year Winner was The Impartial Reporter.
