Cambridge Independent retains UK Weekly Newspaper of the Year crown

Iliffe Media paper is only title to win 100 per cent perfect score in any category at NewsAwards 2018

The Cambridge Independent has won the title of Weekly Newspaper of the Year at the national NewsAwards 2018.

It is the second year running that the Iliffe Media newspaper has scooped the accolade, having won it in 2017 just months after launching in September 2016.

Our sister title, Velvet magazine, won the Regional Supplement/Magazine of the Year, following its recent expansion and revamp in A4 format.

The prestigious awards, announced at a ceremony in London on Wednesday night, were attended by hundreds of leading national and international media professionals.

More than 1,000 nominations were pored over by a team of 24 judges to determine the winners.

The judges said of the Cambridge Independent: “Reclaiming the title it won last year, this magnificent stitched and trimmed magazine-style weekly scored highly with all the judges, including the only 100 per cent perfect score of any category.

“Typically 104-128 pages every week, the paper has built close business relationships and is partnering for nearly all major events in the vibrant city. The Independent stood out from the crowd on the judging table, not least because of its innovative format.”

Editor Paul Brackley said: “We are absolutely delighted to win such a prestigious award for the second year running. It is a great achievement and a tribute to the team who works so hard to put it together each week. I would like to thank all of our readers and advertisers who have supported us since launching the title less than two years ago.”

Among the other shortlisted titles was the Lynn News, another Iliffe Media title, which was commended for its “high standard of production quality” and volume of local content.

Velvet magazine, which was joint winner with Bury & West Suffolk magazine, was praised as a “vibrant magazine, packed full of well-written content” that “looks and feels like a premium product” and “knows its target audience”.

They added: “One judge said that Velvet’s print was quite exceptional.”

There was further good news for the Cambridge Independent the morning after the awards ceremony as it was shortlisted for another six awards at the Regional Press Awards, the other main UK-wide industry awards.

The paper will defend its crown of Weekly Newspaper of the Year at these awards too, having won it in 2017.

Three of the Cambridge Independent team are shortlisted for individual awards:

• Sports editor Mark Taylor for Weekly Sports Journalist of the Year and also for the Reporting Communities Award

• Editor Paul Brackley for Specialist Journalist / Impact Writer of the Year, for his science features

• Paul Kirkley for Columnist of the Year

Meanwhile, one of the title’s most striking front pages, headlined Cambridge as a Smart City, was nominated for Front Page of the Year.

The Regional Press Awards are run by the Society of Editors and will be announced in London on May 18.