Staff at Annapolis Valley newspapers ate their way to national success with the 10,000 apple campaign.
On April 26, the Kings County Register - along with its sister papers the Kings County Advertiser, Hants Journal and Annapolis Spectator - received the Outstanding Community Service award among newspapers with circulation up to 9,999 at the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards in Toronto.
In October 2010, group publisher Fred Fiander launched a campaign to support the local apple industry with a pledge on behalf of staff of the papers to eat 10,000 apples in 12 months. With the support of staff, readers, customers and producers at Scotian Gold Co-operative, the goal was met in October 2011.
“It was with extreme pride that I accepted the award on behalf to the whole team,” Fiander said.
“To be judged against the whole country and come out on top is a testament to the dedication we have to the communities we serve.”
The project was about healthy eating, but also aimed to draw attention to the importance of the $50 million provincial apple industry and to encourage Valley residents to reach for a locally grown fruit at the grocery store.
For many of the papers’ staff, the “apple a day” habit stuck.
“We enjoyed the project so much that we still keep a stock of local apples at the office,” Fiander said.
The Kings County Register, representing the eight weekly and one monthly publication contributing to NovaNewsNow.com, also received a second place award at the CCNAs for Best Website among newspapers with a circulation of 4,000 to 12,499.
Among the Nova Scotia Weeklies group, the Hants Journal received first place in the General Excellence category for Best All-Round Newspaper in its circulation class at the awards.
Belle Hatfield, a contributor to the Yarmouth Vanguard, and Greg Bennett, editor of the Shelburne Coast Guard, both won Best Historical Story in their respective circulation categories.
The apple campaign is nominated for Best Community Service and Novanewsnow.com is up for Best Website at the Newspapers Atlantic Better Newspapers Competition gala in Halifax May 12.
Staff of the Nova Scotia Weeklies are nominated for a number of awards that evening, including Advertiser and Register advertising representative Katy Wagner for Best Advertising Program and sales manager Ray Savage for Best Special Section.
