Telegraph Media Group wins digital publisher awards

Telegraph Media Group, publisher of Telegraph.co.uk romped home with two awards for best editorial team consumer (Comment is Free) and best research and insights project (Brand Aid Panel) in the Association of Online Publishers (AOP) eighth Digital Publishing Awards 2009.

Beating competition from other digital publishers like Reuters, The Sun Online and the Guardian, the Telegraph also won the Cross-media Project award for Corduroy Mansions, the online novel written by Alexander McCall Smith exclusively for Telegraph.co.uk.

Incidentally, Corduroy Mansions has also been shortlisted for this month's 'new media age' effectiveness awards.

The Telegraph also won an award for the 'best digital publisher' in the consumer category.

Unveiling the winners at its eighth Digital Publishing Awards 2009 at Old Billingsgate in London last night at a Gala event hosted by comedian Hugh Dennis, AOP chairman and digital and multi-media director of Telegraph Media Group Alison Ready said, ''I'm delighted with the enthusiasm of entrants this year and thrilled that, even in these economic times, we can showcase examples of innovation and highlight publishers who provide consistent high-quality, entertaining content for its audiences.''

''At the AOP we feel it is even more important to recognise and reward businesses and individuals in the publishing sector that contributed to and made a real difference to our industry this year,'' he added.

On Telegraph's 'Comment is Free,' the judges commented, ''Through social media outreach and tracking, combined with a sophisticated approach to moderation and community management, plus consistently high-quality, stimulating editorial, Comment is Free is raising the visibility of important debate and is getting people talking about things that matter.

The judges praised the editorial team by saying, ''This editorial team brings traditional editorial rigour and values to the future of online citizen journalism - it rocks!''

In the Research & Insights Project category, where Telegraph won the award for 'The Brand Aid Panel,' the judges said ''A timely research project for these recessionary times which delivers effective return of investment to advertisers.''

Other winners were Reed Business International, which won three awards for 'best editorial team' business category (Farmer's Weekly), 'best digital ad sales team' (RBI Job Sites) and for one of the new awards introduced this year, 'best digital editorial' in the individuals category for Julian Gairdner (Farmer's Weekly).

TSL Education picked up two awards for the 'best website business' (TES Connect) and 'best digital publisher' in the business category.

Bauer Media walked away with the 'best website' consumer category (for FHM.com).

The other two new categories introduced this year were won by Alex Outlaw, IPC Media, for 'best digital commercial individual' and eConsultancy for 'best specialist digital publisher'.