For the fifteenth consecutive year, the regional press prize will be awarded in June 2016. Each year, it is awarded by a panel of professionals to the magazine with the best content, presentation and images. Open to all producers of territorial publications, entry is free and open from now on.

Created in 1998 by Didier Rigaud, the prize is awarded to a selection of internal and external territorial magazines and journals at the annual Rencontres de la presse territoriale. One of the advantages of this award is that it allows all local authorities, whatever their size, to enter. In 2015, Andelot-Morval was awarded the trophy for its Tam-Tam newspaper. The commune of 90 inhabitants publishes a magazine that is original in its layout and interesting in its writing. Last year, it shared the podium with Claix and Grenoble.

The municipal bulletin is the leading communication tool for local authorities

Over the last 15 years, the number of entries for this prize organised by Cap’ com has grown steadily, with more than 150 now taking part. The prize is awarded by a jury of communications professionals, who select around fifty magazines and assess them before giving their verdict.

Participation in this prize, and the progress made in terms of images and quality, prove that this type of magazine has been able to evolve to win over a readership that has become difficult to seduce by arousing curiosity. The stakes are high for municipalities and local authorities. Their publication remains the main tool for communicating with their constituents, and as such deserves to be given professional resources. Keeping abreast of the latest developments in both print and web, our teams are constantly working to improve both the form and content of our publications.

While social networks are popular for providing immediate information, they are not very popular with the readership of the regional press, who traditionally prefer to consult their usual paper newspaper. This success is borne out by the figures.

The regional press: France’s leading press group

In 2014, the regional press distributed around 15 million copies each month, received by 80¨% of the population, making it the leading national press group. While the PQR and PQN are struggling to maintain their circulation, the regional press is nibbling away at its share of readership every year. In 10 years it has increased its circulation by 15% and continues to boost its publications.

Paradoxically, the corporate press does a poor job of measuring its impact in terms of content. To capitalise on the trust of its readers, the corporate press must publish objective information on the issues it covers. It will favour realistic reports for a more informed readership, but one that is worried about the economic and social situation.

With the professionalisation of its editorial teams, it is adopting a magazine tone. No longer content to simply report on local projects and innovations, the magazine now focuses on features, telling local residents about their area and the changes it is undergoing.

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