Council News claims prestigious RH Dougherty Award

10 August 2015

For immediate release

Council News claims prestigious RH Dougherty Award

Wagga Wagga City Council has been honoured at the Local Government NSW (LGNSW) annual awards dinner in Sydney on 6 August.

Praised by the judges for its innovation, WWCC’s weekly publication Council News took out the RH Dougherty Award for Reporting to Your Community (Division B - population 30,000 to 100,000).

Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Rod Kendall and General Manager Phil Pinyon were on hand to accept the award.

The RH Dougherty Awards are presented each year during Local Government Week to recognise high quality communication by councils to their local communities.

This is the third prestigious RH Dougherty Award for Council in a row, having won the Excellence in Communication category in 2013 for the Wagga Waggafest short film competition and in 2014 for The Funbobulator.

Council News was created by rethinking how to meet the Department of Local

Government’s legislative advertising requirements, while keeping the community informed about Council projects, services and initiatives.

The publication of Council News aligns with the Community Strategic Plan – Ruby & Oliver, which recognises the importance the community places on access to information.

The first weekly newsletter was published in July 2014 and following a successful 12-month trial period will continue to provide important information for residents while streamlining Council’s advertising expenditure.

Council News also features a what’s on guide, pet of the week, Councillor columns employment opportunities and public notices.

You can read Council News online at wagga.nsw.gov.au/councilnews and subscribe to receive it direct to your email inbox.

RH Dougherty Award – Reporting to Your Community (Division B - population 30,000 to 100,000): Wagga Wagga City Council: Council News

Judges’ comments: An innovative response to Council messages being lost in translation was born within the Council’s Media and Communications Team via a weekly A3 four page newspaper written, compiled and designed internally and

printed within the local paper, The Daily Advertiser. It was also made available online, via social media and in hard copy at the Civic Centre Arcade.

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Contact Josh Lang 6926 9190/0437 385 892 or media@wagga.nsw.gov.au or follow us on Twitter - @WaggaCouncil