Annual Conference Charlestown, Newcastle Judges ’ Comments 7 October 2011 Book 2011 Newspaper Awards & Judges’ Comments th 111 ANNUAL CONFERENCE Quality Hotel Apollo International 290 Pacific Highway, CHARLESTOWN, NSW October 7, 2011 Country Press NSW Inc. 1st Floor, 163 Epsom Road, Flemington VIC. 3031 Telephone: 03 8387 5500 Facsimile: 03 9372 2427 Email:
[email protected] Web: www.cpnsw.org.au Our Sponsors JUDGES 2010-2011 JOURNALISM JUDGES 2010-2011 The EC Sommerlad Memorial Award for Journalism JUDGE: Dan Austin, OAM Dan Austin began his distinguished journalistic and management career as a cadet on The Singleton Argus in 1958. Later, he was the editor of The Advertiser at Cessnock, The Maitland Mercury and managing editor of the Manning River Times, Taree. As chief executive of The Maitland Mercury, he lifted the oldest country newspaper in New South Wales to a level that won them the Meacham Award for the top regional daily newspaper in 1975, as well as winning the WO Richards Award for Technical Excellence six times during his incumbency as Editor, Editor-in-Chief and General Manager Country Newspapers for Australian Consolidated Press. He served various proprietors as Chief Executive and Editor-in-Chief of newspapers embracing the Central West, Hunter region and mid-North Coast of NSW before joining Rural Press Limited in 1987 in charge of its regional newspaper division which had risen to 167 titles by his retirement in 1997. He also served as a director and President of PANPA and Director and Chairman of Regional Dailies of Australia. In 1993, he was awarded the Medal in the Order of Australia for service to country newspapers.