Once again Community Newspapers Victoria, the peak body of not-for-profit newspapers in Victoria, held its annual conference online.

As ever the results of the Annual Awards were keenly awaited and Knox newspapers were well represented. Studfield Wantirna Community News was commended for Richard Faragher’s article on Lake Knox and the concerns of the Knox Environment Society. Rowville and Lysterfield Community News were finalists in Best Newspaper, as was Ferntree Gully News.

Ferntree Gully News’ December 2020 editorial won the Award for Best Editorial.

The keynote speaker was Liselotte Geary from the CFA media department who introduced us to the impressive and complex work of that department during emergencies. Other sessions kept us up to the mark on the intricacies of community engagement, public responsibility and the finer points of newspaper production.