Gold rush comes to Pride In Print awards

Pride In Print Supreme Award finalists now qualify for not one, but two, gold medals.

Along with the traditional gold-embossed medal on blue ribbon that is awarded when an entry meets the gold medal standard of excellence, Supreme Award finalists now also receive a colour-highlighted, gold-embossed medal on red ribbon.

Trailed during the 2007 awards, the new medal category was well received and encouraged the committee to implement it permanently. "We want to highlight the success and achievement of companies and keep our industry striving for success," said Sue Archibald, Pride In Print awards manager.

"The bar of excellence continues to lift and we have created this new point of difference to give appropriate recognition."

There is still a distinction between the new medal and the gold medal itself, according to chairperson John North, who made a point of noting than the new category would not create competition for a gold medal.

"To achieve a gold medal requires excellence - and not at the expense of any other piece - thus we can have multiple golds in any category," he said.

North explained that it is only once a gold has been awarded that there is any competition. "We simply want to be able to make each category winner stand out a little more and give them something extra to celebrate their success," he said.

Adding this additional medal category is an example of how Print In Print is "pushing the boundaries", North said.

"We are encouraging people to do new and innovative things, and to submit entries to be judged as excellent. It is all about highlighting the really great aspects and stories from the New Zealand print industry," he said.