Byron Coast Times up for top national award

TIMES News Group’s Northern NSW mastheads are celebrating national recognition, with the Byron Coast Times shortlisted for Emerging Publication of the Year in the 2025 Mumbrella Publish Awards.

Managing director Warick Brown said the Byron Coast Times, Ballina Times, Lismore Times and Tweed Coast Times had all built strong connections with their communities since joining the Times News Group family last year.

“When we added the Northern Rivers newspapers to our newspaper family a year ago, we had no idea the incredible reaction we would receive,” Brown said. “This nomination belongs to the people of the Northern Rivers. We would not be here without the readers who trust us to tell their stories and the local businesses who back us.”

Brown said the region’s creative spirit and entrepreneurial energy gave the papers an endless supply of stories worth telling.

“From farmers and food producers to artists and innovators, there is so much talent here,” he said. “You only have to walk through a local market or main street to see ideas that are making an impact far beyond the region.”

He said people also travel from across Australia to experience the region’s cultural life.

“Whether it is the Byron Writers Festival, Bluesfest or smaller and more intimate emerging events like the Mullum Roots Festival, the Northern Rivers is a place people want to be part of,” Brown said.

The region is also home to nationally recognised brands including Byron Bay Cookies, Byron Bay Chilli Co, Brookfarm, Cape Byron Distillery, Stone and Wood, St. Agni, Afends and many more.

“These are businesses born from this community, shaped by the people and the landscape, and now recognised across Australia,” Brown said. “Our job is to capture that same sense of place and possibility in every edition we publish.”

He said the shortlisting also recognised the dedication of the entire team across the four NSW mastheads.

“From our journalists on the ground in the local community to our production and advertising staff, sales and distribution teams, and network of photographers and contributors, everyone works hard to create papers that are clear, engaging and worth keeping,” he said.

The winners will be announced on September 25 at The Eveleigh in Sydney.

BY TIMES NEWS GROUP