Paper makes its mark at regional media awards

Chief reporter Anita Moran was named joint Digital Innovator of the Year at the annual APN Regional Media Awards 2014.

Two Bay of Plenty Times journalists have scooped top awards.

Reporter Sonya Bateson was named junior reporter of the year at the annual APN Regional Media Awards 2014 while chief reporter Anita Moran was named joint Digital Innovator of the Year.

The awards ceremony was held in Wairakei on Wednesday night. Sports writer Peter White was runner-up Sports Reporter of the Year, after winning that category last year.

Kiri Gillespie was runner-up in the Senior Reporter of the Year category, while John Borren was runner-up in the Photographer of the Year category.

Former Bay of Plenty Times journalist James Fuller was also a runner-up in the Feature Writer of the Year category.

Judges said Bateson's entries showed great initiative.

"She digs from the moment she sees something interesting, and consistently finds gold."

Moran's award comes as the Bay of Plenty Times boosts its digital presence with more resources being pumped into breaking news and daily views on bayofplentytimes.co.nz and Facebook.

The Bay of Plenty Times retail/features sales team was also named Sales Team of the Year. Marketing manager Samantha Dowling was highly commended in the Overall Award for Excellence.

The paper was also runner-up in the Best Front Page category.

Bay of Plenty Times editor Scott Inglis paid tribute to the paper's editorial team.

"These awards reflect the hard work and quality journalism our editorial staff deliver to readers," he said.

The Bay of Plenty Times was named Newspaper of the Year at the Canon Media Awards in both 2012 and 2013.