Australia’s newspaper media publishers have picked up 11 International News Media Association (INMA) Awards, which were announced at the INMA World Congress in New York.

The global INMA Awards are the industry’s premier barometer for initiatives to grow audience, revenue and brands of news media companies. Overall, 30 first place awards in 15 categories across two audience groups were presented to 26 media companies.

The awards were announced at the Edison Ballroom at New York’s Times Square before an audience of 300 global media executives. This year’s awards attracted 578 entries from 38 countries.

The awards were judged by an international jury of 33 executives from 15 countries representing the worlds of media and marketing and creativity.

Former Fairfax Media executive Robert Whitehead was also honoured at the INMA Awards for lifetime career achievement and contribution to INMA, presented with the Silver Shovel Award. Whitehead was also a former president of the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers Association (PANPA) and a board member of The Newspaper Works.

In addition, seven companies were recognised for excellence in the second annual INMA Global Innovation Awards. Fairfax Media won Best in Asia Pacific, while News Corp’s social media curation company, Storyful, took out first place for the global innovation award.

“Australia has been extremely well represented again this year, winning awards for both metro and regional titles, which is testament to the innovation occurring in our market,” The Newspaper Works CEO Mark Hollands said.

The list of Australian INMA Award winners includes:

Global Innovation Award – Best in Asia/Pacific:

Fairfax Media, Australia, for “Brand Discover.”

Best Marketing Solution for an Advertising Client

Group 1 – First place

The Advertiser/Sunday Mail – “Clipsal 500 Adelaide”

Best Idea to Grow Single-Copy Sales

Group 1 – First place

APN Australian Regional Media – “APN ARM Dinosaurs Collector Cards”

Group 1 – Second place

APN Australian Regional Media – “APN ARM Free Seeds Giveaway”

Best Idea to Encourage Print Readership or Engagement

Group 1 – First place

The Gympie Times – “The Gympie Times”

Group 2 – Second place

The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Advertiser, The Courier-Mail –  “Sir David Attenborough Essential Collection”

Best Use of Social Media

Group 1 – Second place

Sunshine Coast Daily – “Sunshine Coast Daily: Connecting the Coast”

Best Public Relations or Community Service Campaign

Group 1 –Third place

The Daily Telegraph – “Fair Go For the West Campaign”

Best Use of an Event to Grow a News Brand

Group 1 – Second place

The Daily Telegraph – “Fair Go For The West Campaign”

Best Idea to Grow Digital Audience or Engagement

Group 1 – Third place

Traveller.com.au – “The Travel Bug Competition”

Best idea to Grow Advertising Sales or Retain Advertising Clients

Group 2 – Third place

APN ARM Group of Newspapers –  “APN ARM Bundles”

Similarly, Fairfax Media