Positive storyteller up for Pride award

Northland Age editor Peter Jackson couldn't guess who had nominated him for a Pride of New Zealand Award.

The mystery person had put Mr Jackson's name forward for an award in the Pride of New Zealand community spirit category because he "did good work on the Northland Age spreading positive stories about the Far North".

The 61-year-old who has been at the helm of the Kaitaia biweekly newspaper for 31 years liked the bit about "positive" stories. Yes, he was putting a pearler in that category into today's Age.

It's about the Mangonui Lions Club presenting Doubtless Bay 7-year-old Skyla Hoult with a Lions Children of Courage Award. Mr Jackson is no stranger to awards.

He was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to journalism in 2011.

Earlier this month he was among three finalists in the best editorial writer category at the Canon media awards - the country's top prizegiving ceremony for journalists and photographers.

Mr Jackson was David squaring off against a pair of Goliaths.

The Age circulation is around 4100 and his rivals were from the Listener, circulation over 60,000, and the Dominion Post, 77,800.

The award went to the Listener's Jane Clifton but Mr Jackson got the loudest applause from his supporters who understand it is the first time a community paper has made the finals in the editorial writing category at the awards.