Navy News has won six awards of excellence in the prestigious 2004 Communicators in Business (Cib) competition – the most by any single publication.

They were for Best News Story, Best Design, Best Photograph, Best Illustration, Best External Online Newsletter and Best Use of Humour.

Over 800 entries were received for this, the biggest competition of its kind in Europe, held at Warwick. Guest speaker was former Defence Secretary Michael Portillo.

Since it first entered the contest in 1972 Navy News has won 112 awards without missing a single year – a unique achievement.

Editor Jim Allaway said: “I am delighted that we managed to ‘cover the waterfront’ yet again in this, our 50th anniversary year – in which we also picked up our third Plain English Campaign award.

“Particularly since we are still a wholly ‘in house’ publication in a contest now almost entirely dominated by agencies that have no real connection with the organisations they serve.

“It reflects great credit on all my team – a small outfit that, 50 years on, continues to punch well above its weight and actually sells its product worldwide.”

The judge’s comments on the Navy News entries included:

“I’m sure that every judge in the Cab’s annual awards looks forward to the inclusion of Navy News – because it means at least a couple of hours with a glass of Scotch in front of the fire, having a darned good read! … this is a publication of tremendous charm and professionalism.”
(Best Design)

“This is the biggest site entered in the competition and provides a wealth of fascinating information as well as a contact service for veterans, transactional services and advertising opportunities. With news, pictures, archives and interactive areas, there’s plenty to browse and enjoy. This is a well-used and well-liked treasure trove for people of all ages and nations with an interest in the British Navy.”
(Navy News Online, Best External Online Newsletter)

“This cutaway illustration is a regular CiB contender and every year I am stunned by the quality of the work achieved by the author. The detail is first class in every way, almost down to the screws holding the mirrors on the wall in the crew’s quarters!”
(Mike Badrocke’s cutaway of the Flower-class corvette)

“. . . a well-written feature that conveys vividly the courage, pragmatism and determination of the field hospital staff in Iraq and the conditions in which they were operating. Comparisons with M*A*S*H are inevitable. It’s a gripping read for both servicemen and women and the magazine’s civilian subscribers. The writing style grips the attention from the dramatic opening to the wonderfully undramatic quote in the sign off paragraph.”
(Best News Report – Deputy Editor Mike Gray’s report on a military field hospital in Iraq)

“. . . this cartoon is a superb piece of humorous work. They say a picture speaks a thousand words – it can also convey an image that words alone simply cannot do. That surely is the art of the cartoonist, and something at which Tugg is clearly a master.”
(Tugg Willson’s flight safety cartoon)

“Well – ain’t that a cracker then!!!! I know it can’t be, but the seal seems almost to be saluting ... No, can’t be, can it? On the other hand, it might just be giving its seal of approval!”
(Best Photo – LA(PHOT) Eddie Wareing’s Seal of Approval)