Community Magazines Hit The Headlines

Cambridgeshire’s community magazines and newsletters made the front pages themselves last night at the 2009 Community Magazine Awards, a competition run by the Cambridge Building Society and backed by the Cambridge News.

The scheme, which is in its twelfth year and was revamped for 2009, attracted a record 59 entries – 18 of which were first time entrants. The competition this year was fierce. The High Frequency Magazine award went to Great Staughton & Perry Life & Diaries, whilst the best Low Frequency Magazine was The Villager, which, serves the community of Holywell cum Needingworth.

New entry, the Bassingbourn Belle picked up two awards on the night, for Best Specialist Publication and Best Newcomer, whilst the judges awarded the Most Improved award to the Abbey Community Newsletter.

Best Commercial publication was Villager and Town Life, which, is distributed throughout West Cambridgeshire, whilst the award for best previous winner went to Melbourn Magazine.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, which took place at Marshall’s in Cambridge, Lesley Hollamby from the Cambridge Building Society said, “We set up these awards to recognise the commitment of the people and volunteers involved in producing local magazines and newsletters for the community.

“I’m really pleased that there were a record number of new entrants this year and delighted by the high standard of the submissions.

“The Cambridge has always strived to be at the heart of the local community and it’s clear that the appetite to produce and read locally produced magazines that cover issues and items of interest to local people is bigger than ever. This can only be a good thing for the future of our communities, both urban and rural.”

Notes to editors:
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