Cambridge Independent named Weekly Newspaper of the Year at NewsAwards 2017

The Cambridge Independent has won a prestigious national award – just six months after it was launched.

The title was named Weekly Newspaper of the Year at the NewsAwards 2017, one of the media industry’s most coveted national prizes, at a ceremony at the Lancaster London Hotel on Wednesday (April 5).

Newsawards director and chairman of judges Gary Cullum, who is editor and publisher of newspaper industry trade journal PJ ( Production Journal), said: “The Cambridge Independent is a fabulous example of weekly newspapering at its very best.

“It’s a brilliant and innovative product, superbly printed, uniquely stitched and trimmed and with compelling content. It absolutely hits the spot.

“The modern magazine style caught the eye of the judges who described it as the stand-out entry in a fiercely fought category. It is crammed full of local news, views, insight and features - a wonderful example of what a local newspaper at the heart of its community should be.

“The Independent has achieved much since its launch last autumn and it is wonderful to see a proprietor prepared to invest heavily in giving the people of Cambridge the newspaper it deserves.

“The Independent’s success last night over some long-established competitors is also testament to the professionalism and dedication of Iliffe Media’s senior management, commercial and journalistic teams.”

The Cambridge Independent is published by Iliffe Media, an independent family-owned business with a rich history in newspapers. The title was launched on September 21.

Since then, Iliffe Media has acquired 13 papers in East Anglia and Lincolnshire from Johnston Press, including the Bury Free Press, Newmarket Journal and Haverhill Echo, and is working on ways to enhance these well-established titles, all of which are printed at Iliffe Print in Milton. Iliffe Media has also purchased Velvet and IQ magazines.

The NewsAwards are held in association with Production Journal and Fujifilm.