Critic is once again bathing in the nectar of success after taking out Best Student Publication at the annual Aotearoa Student Press Association (APSA) awards in Wellington on September 28.
Otago’s student mag raked in the top prizes of Best Student Publication, Best Editorial, Best Series and Best Website after the year long reign of Editor Joe Stockman, proving that his age and deteriorating physical condition has been no barrier.
When asked if he was pleased with the results, Stockman said, “Look, it’s not like we set out to win these awards, we set out to win all of the awards, and these are the only ones the bastards would give us. We didn’t even win hottest Editor. I mean, that’s not actually an award,” said Stockman. I presumed once they saw me walk in the door they’d just give it to me.”
The Best Series award was won by Callum Fredric’s “Treaty Gate”, “Two Hours with Louis Crimp” and Lauren Wootton’s “Is the Treaty Dead?” Critic also came a nail-biting second in several other awards. Fredric placed second for Best Paid News whilst Critic intern and mailroom assistant Claudia Herron came in second for Best Unpaid News. Maddy Phillips was highly commended in the hotly contested Best Feature Writer award.
In the fiercely competitive student publication industry, Critic has a strong history, taking out Best Publication at the APSA’s in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012. Bookies are taking bets now on Fredric’s chances of breaking the bi-annual curse.
Despite leading Critic to Best Student Publication and himself winning Best Editorial Writer, Stockman’s days in the industry seem to be numbered. “This is the last I’m having to do with student media,” said Stockman. “I’m going into PR.”
Maddy Phillipps highly commended at Student Press Awards
