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Large hangover leads to average story about Magazine Awards

There is so much that could be written about last night’s Magazine Publisher’s Association gong-fest, but StopPress has a headache, so instead let’s just say that Healthy Food Guide took out the Supreme Magazine award, NZ House & Garden’s Kate Coughlan took out Supreme Editor of the year and Paula Ryan, resplendent in an impractical yet presumably highly fashionable ensemble, was handed the Lifetime Achievement Award. 350 ridiculously good looking magaziney types turned up at the Rendezvous in Auckland to slap a few backs. And the big one went to what is now the country’s number one selling food magazine, Healthy Food Guide.
“We have helped shape public attitudes towards food and encouraged companies to add healthy option products to their range and worked with them to make them successful,” says managing director of Healthy Life Media Phil Ryan. “Now, everyone is talking about healthy food, so we are indeed in a winning space.”

The magazine has been alive for just five years and it also won the home, food and garden magazine category. And the judges said: “This is an involving magazine; simple and effective with strong results. It knows what it is here to do and does it very successfully, especially when the un-healthy option is often the cheaper one. Healthy Food Guide keeps growing and growing, reflecting the terrific achievements of the publication and its team”.

StopPress’ pick for next year’s Supreme Winner: The Bad Food Guide.

As for Fairfax Media’s Kate Coughlan, a regular winner of such editorial accolades, the judges said: “Kate’s clearly articulated vision and mission has produced an outstandingly focussed magazine. She shows meticulous copy selection and treatment, knows her topic and understands her readers’ interests, needs and passions. Kate’s strategy is spot on”.

Paula Ryan, who started out as a graphic designer, was a model, co-founded Fashion Quarterly and also founded Simply You, was given the lifetime achievement award, joining the likes of Robin Beckett, Warwick Rodger, Reg Birchfield, Jean Wishart and Lindsey Dawson.

“Apart from being a recognised entrepreneur in publishing, she is regarded as one of the most authoritative voices on fashion and image in the country. In 2009 – in recognition for her services to fashion – she became a Member of The New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.”

NZ Magazines’ NZ Woman’s Weekly did pretty well, with five awards in the women’s interest category, including magazine of the year, editor of the year for Sido Kitchin, best cover design, journalist of the year for Sharon Course and designer of the year for Julie Koberstein.

Interestingly, there was no award given for publisher of the year. Probably because no-one made any money. And the elephant in the room was the fact that ACP, one of the biggest New Zealand magazine publishers, was absent once again. Last year chief executive Paul Dykzeul mentioned something about self-serving industry back-slapping and has chosen instead to support the Qantas Media Awards and, by extension, the craft of journalism.

As is the custom with such awards, it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t blow our own trumpet. So, here goes. For HB Media, Idealog won best print and digital integration (beating out NZ Marketing), Matt Cooney took out editor of the year in the business category and it also won best business cover design. Greedy old Adrian Clapperton took home three bottles of Deutz, winning designer of the year honours for Idealog in the business category, for NZ Marketing in the trade professional category and also for Good magazine in the Family, Health & Wellbeing category.

NZ Marketing took out best cover design in the trade professional category and was also highly commended in the launch/relaunch category, with The Cut taking that honour. And, in the Family Health & Wellbeing category, Good magazine won cover design of the year and Good editor Annabel McAleer took journalist of the year.

Rod Oram, writing in Good, took columnist of the year in the consumer category and Su Yin Khoo won best designer for Custom & Membership Publishing category for Inspire.

Check out all the lucky winners here Media release 2010 Magazine Award Winners. Next year everyone will be given 2D glasses to wear so they feel as though they are actually in a magazine.

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