This year of reporting is by far and away the best I have seen since I started as judge.  My shortlist was six strong and it was hard to eliminate submissions.

Second - Southern Argus

Third - The Border Watch

Comment for both second and third: Storytelling is at the heart of reporting and there is genuine cut-through with these articles.  Getting local people to tell their stories provides opportunities for genuine connection, and hopefully a positive impact when it comes to driving behaviour. Both papers provided really strong submissions, and both would have been deserved winners.

Winner - Fleurieu Sun

There is recognisable depth to both the writing and research throughout the reporting. The focus on #fixourfleurieu is a really smart the anchor point and allows for an extended conversation over an extended period of time. The supporting layout was well designed with strong headlines and the double page map highlights the road issues in an easily digestible format. Great work all round.