THE Fassifern Guardian has been recognised for outstanding editorial content in this year’s Queensland Country Press Association awards.

Guardian journalist Brian Bennion was presented with the Journalistic Excellence Award for an Individual Journalist.

And Brian backed up the win with the award for Best Editorial Campaign, while journalists Wendy Creighton and Joe Hinchliffe won third in the same category.

In the Best of the Best category, the Fassifern Guardian backed up its 2021 win with a second place in 2022.

The QCPA annual awards ceremony was held in Brisbane on Friday night.

Judges Dr Kristy Hess & Alison McAdam commented on the record number of entries in the Journalistic Excellence Award for an Individual Journalist saying … “it was an absolute pleasure to have the privilege of reading the entries in this section. Based on the number of entries and standard displayed, journalism in regional Queensland is well and truly alive. A terrific representation of reporting from the entries with features, hard news and everything in between.”.

In focusing on why Brian Bennion was chosen as the outright winner, Dr Hess remarked: “People who think local politics are boring should read this excellent series from reporter Brian Bennion. From the first story where the inner turmoil on council is exposed, this is a riveting read, ending in an inquiry into council's closed-door meetings to the sacking of the CEO.”

Judge Rohan Gosstray was equally complimentary about the Guardian’s overall standard of journalism and presentation in the Best of the Best category.

“Striking visual design, bold and easy to read with a good variety of local stories, good local advertising support with the start of a solid classified section.

“Striking design continues on the website which allows subscribers to continue on with interesting stories and provides the opportunity for the editor to add more information that could not be used in the printed publication.”

The Guardian’s standard of coverage also struck a note with Best Editorial Campaign judge, Celine Foenander.

“Saving Minto Crag – terrific stories covering all angles of the debate and a clear outcome for the indigenous community.

“This is a story which could easily have been swept under the carpet - so what if people climb a rock on a weekend? However having some solid evidence from archaeologists helped to strengthen the argument that climbing was neither good for the environment nor the cultural significance of the area.

“Had the indigenous community not had the backing of the publication and a small band of community supporters, it's unlikely this issue would have gone as far as it did.

“What a moving outcome to the story.”

The Queensland Country Press Awards dinner was held in Brisbane on Friday night and the more than a century old media organisation celebrated record entries in the awards and recent record membership which now numbers more than 60 titles.

• The Fassifern Guardian’s sister newspapers, The Ipswich Tribune and the Moreton Border News were also winners on the night. The Ipswich Tribune won the Best Editorial Campaign category for a series of stories written by Brian Bennion about the Tivoli Raceway.

Photographer Lyle Radford was awarded second and third place in Best News Picture with his photographs of the Ipswich flood clean-up awarded second place for the Ipswich Tribune and his image of a lightning strike over Rosewood awarded third place for sister publication the Moreton Border News.

The Ipswich Tribune was also awarded third place for Overall Journalistic Excellence Award for a Newspaper.

Judges commented on the Tribune’s commitment to covering the big issues in Ipswich.

“For a relatively new newspaper it is easy to see why (the Ipswich Tribune) has rapidly gained the support of the region,” said judges Dr Kristy Hess and Alison McAdam.

“The front page of this newspaper packs a punch with local content. There doesn’t seem to be a council agenda item overlooked by this newspaper and it clearly digs deeper to explore big issues where needed.”