Our award-winning title for Aberystwyth and the surrounding area has been recognised as one of the leading news brands in the UK.
In November, the Cambrian News was honoured for being the Best Weekly Newspaper in Wales. Now, two months later, the publication has been shortlisted as being the best in the UK.
The finalists for the prestigious UK Regional Press Awards were announced last Thursday and Cambrian News is one of six finalists for the Best News Brand of the Year for papers with a print circulation less than 50,000.
Those six finalists include another Welsh title, the South Wales Echo.
But it’s only the second time Cambrian News has been shortlisted for the UK Regional Press Awards in the paper’s 164-year history, having last made the finalist stage in 2014.
“This is a tremendous honour,” Cambrian News Editor Mick O’Reilly said. “This reflects on the quality of our journalism both in print and online, and at a time when the newspaper landscape is changing to meet the challenges of the digital age, we are on top of our game.”
Narrowing the UK-wide field of entries down to six, the organisers noted that Cambrian News “hits far above its weight. And it does so through its fearless approach to local news and reporting.”
O’Reilly said: “There are no sacred cows, no group or organisation, no government body that it will not challenge with its commitment to telling what happened and getting it right. It holds those in positions of authority to account.
“Each week, the small news team at Cambrian News goes behind the news, providing our loyal audience in print and online with unbridled coverage of local events.
“Yes, we do the small. But we take on the big, challenging government bodies and those in positions of regulatory power and authority. We cover community news — and that means telling the stories of our communities across an area that covers 25 per cent of rural Wales.
“With limited resources, we put together a weekly print package and online that refuses to follow where other weekly newspapers have gone.
“We ask the awkward questions. We put context in our coverage. We provide a comprehensive package of news and information that is uncompromising,” O’Reilly said.
Emily Woolfe, the Editorial Director for Tindle Newspapers said: “Having already scooped the title of best weekly newspaper in Wales within the past few months, it is no surprise to me to see Cambrian News shortlisted for News Brand of the Year.
“It is well-deserved recognition for the hard work and dedication of the Aberystwyth-based team and the quality local content that they produce every day, both in print and online.
“I am delighted that this has been recognised at a national level and wish them all luck for the awards ceremony.”
The ceremony will be in London on 16 April.
Scott Wood, the Managing Director for Tindle Newspapers said that even being nominated represented deserved recognition for the team at Cambrian News, and further illustrated the importance of local brands. He added: “I wish all the team every success come 16 April.”