Small publishers and print sites vie against big ones among specialist and technical excellence nominations for the 2016 PANPA awards, announced this week.

In the single-width category for community newspapers for instance, small local newspaper operation the Narrabri Courier in country NSW competes with a major production site in Taiwan and with the Fairfax Media site in North Richmond, NSW, which has recently been upgraded to print the Sydney Morning Herald.

Narrabri Courier publisher Ian Dunnet is also a finalist in the photography categories.

Another title printed at the Taiwan plant is a contender in the single-width regional category, competing against entries from Fairfax's Beresfield print site and APN's Gladstone Observer.

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on the evening of the Future Forum on September 2, organised by NewsMediaWorks.

The full list of finalists in the PANPA Newspaper of the Year awards - with the technical excellence finalists first - is as follows:

TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE- SINGLE-WIDTH

Community Finalists

The Courier, Narrabri - North Western Courier Pty Ltd

Sharp Daily, Taiwan - Apple Daily Publication Development Limited, Taiwan Branch

The Western Weekender - North Richmond Print Centre, Fairfax Media

Regional Finalists

Apple Daily, Taiwan - Apple Daily Publication Development Limited, Taiwan Branch

The Newcastle Herald - Beresfield Print Centre, Fairfax Media

Gladstone Observer, APN

National/Metropolitan Finalists

Australian Financial Review - North Richmond Print Centre, Fairfax Media

The Australian, NT News, News Corp Australia

Apple Daily, Hong Kong - Apple Daily Printing Limited

DOUBLE-WIDTH

Community Finalists

World News Weekly, Fairfax Media

Penrith Press, NewsCorp Australia

The Vision Times, NZME Ellersllie

The Standard, News Corp Australia

Regional Finalists

Fraser Coast Chronicle, APN Yandina Print Centre

The Northern Star, APN Yandina Print Centre

The Gympie Times, APN Yandina Print Centre

Sunshine Coast Daily, APN Yandina Print Centre

National/Metropolitan Finalists

The Sunday Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Sydney Morning Herald, North Richmond Print Centre, Fairfax Media

The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

The Australian, News Corp Australia

The Age Saturday, Fairfax Border Mail Printing

PRE-PRINT OR SUPPLEMENT - (OPEN) Finalists

Home - The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Real Estate - The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Body & Soul - The Sunday Telegraph, News Corp Australia

2016 Finke, News Corp Australia

The Border Mail Domain, Border Mail Printing, Fairfax Media

Mildura Weekly Real Estate, Border Mail Printing, Fairfax Media

Off the Leash, NT News, News Corp Australia

Henty Machinery Field Days Guide, Border Mail Printing, Fairfax Media

Angus Bull Sales, The Gisborne Herald

PRINT CENTRE OF THE YEAR

Darwin Print Centre, News Corp Australia

Ellerslie Print Centre, NZME.

APN Yandina Print Centre, Fairfax Media

• GXpress magazine managing editor Peter Coleman was among technical excellence judges, with Steve Packham, Phillip Campbell, David Roles and Peter Clark.

General categories and Newspaper of the Year:

PHOTOGRAPHY

PORTRAIT

Community Finalists

John the Walker, Ian Dunnet, The Courier Narrabri, North Western Courier

Bella, Sithtixay Ditthavong, Riverine Herald, McPherson Media

Grandpa de deux, Andrew Ritchie, Wanneroo Weekender, Community Newspaper Group

Dancer, Andrew Ritchie, Guardian Express, Community Newspaper Group

Strong Man, Richard Gosling, Gold Coast Sun, News Corp Australia

Smoking Actor, Jon Hewson, Freemantle Gazette, Community Newspaper Group

Bandit and Steve, Geoff Jones, Hawkesbury Gazette, Fairfax Media

Masters, The Manly Daily, News Corp Australia

David Gulpilil, Michael Rayner, The Weekly Review

Frank Woodley, Scott McNaughton, The Weekly Review

Samuel Johnson, Scott McNaughton, The Weekly Review

Regional Finalists

Star in the Making, Nigel Hallett, Geelong Advertiser, News Corp Australia

At Full Swing, Nigel Hallett, Geelong Advertiser, News Corp Australia

Blues supporter gets busted, Anna Rogers, Cairns Post, News Corp Australia

Wee bit blowy, Marina Neil, Newcastle Herald, Fairfax Media

Playing in Ash, Wesley Monts, Townsville Bulletin, News Corp Australia

Sand in Storm, Nigel Hallett, Geelong Advertiser, News Corp Australia

Judge Chris McGuire, Stephen John Parker, Rotorua Daily Post, NZME

Country Women, Adam Hourigan, Daily Examiner, APN

Fire in his Soul, Elise Derwin, NT News, News Corp Australia

Ghost Tour, Adam McLean, Illawarra Mecury, Fairfax Media

ElecTREcity, Jon Gellweiler, Ampersand, Western Australian Newspapers

National/Metropolitan Finalists

Dreaming of becoming the first Muslim hijab ballerina in the world, Edwin Pickles, The Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax Media

Campbell Sisters, Gregg Porteous, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Pack your bags, Cameron Richardson, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Ahmed Kelly, Alexander Coppel, Herald Sun, News Corp Australia

Chumpy, Gregg Porteous, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Stink Eye - Tony Abbott, Troy Snook, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Kristy Lee Denovan, Jason Edwards, Herald Sun, News Corp Australia

Ice Nation, Gary Ramage, The Network, News Corp Australia

Sport Portraits, Phill Hilyard, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Dynamic Duo, Toby Zerna, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Sport Portraits, Brett Costello, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

FEATURES AND LIFESTYLE

Community Finalists

Running of the Horses - Troy Snook, Central coast Express Advocate, News Corp Australia

Dawn Patrol, John Veage, St George Sutherland Leader, Fairfax Media

High Fliers, Sitthixay Ditthavong, Riverine Herald, McPherson Media

Native American, Andrew Ritchie, Western Suburbs Weekly, Community Newspaper Group

Llama Walks into a Bar, Perry Duffin, The Maitland Mercury, Fairfax Media

Dad, would you like a chip? - Jon Hewson, Mandurah Coastal Times, Community Newspaper Group

Pipe Dreams, Braden Fastier, The Manly Daily, News Corp Australia

Getting the Shot - Kelsey Sutor, Cowra Guardian, Fairfax Media

Splish Splash - Sitthixay Ditthavong, Riverine Herald

Regional Finalists

Globe of Death, Brendan Radke, Cairns Post, News Corp Australia

Legend of the Tiwis, Elise Derwin, NT News, News Corp Australia

Horse Power, Nigel Hallett, Geelong Advertiser, News Corp Australia

Nudist Nomads, Elise Derwin, NT News, News Corp Australia

Little Leo, Sylvia Liber, Illawarra Mercury, Fairfax Media

Muddy Good Time, Holly Curtis, Shepparton News, McPherson Media

Hidden World, Marc Stapelberg, Northern Star, APN News Media

Len Lye Mix, Andy Jackson, Taranaki Daily News, Fairfax Media

National/Metropolitan Finalists

Breaking Snowy Mountains Brumbies, Stephen Cooper, The Sunday Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Ice Nation Feature, Gary Ramage, The Network, News Corp Australia

Stories of Hope, Jason Edwards, Herald Sun, News Corp Australia

Traceurs, Eddie Jim, The Age, Fairfax Media

Gust Front, Nicholas Moir, The Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax Media

Making a Splash, Matt Turner, The Advertiser, News Corp Australia

Displaced in Bentiu, South Sudan, Kate Geraghty, The Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax Media

SPORT

Community Finalists

Prospects, Sitthixay Ditthavong, Riverine Herald, McPherson Media

Ellie Reflects, Geoff Jones, Hills News, Fairfax Media

The Mane Man, Sitthixay Ditthavong, Riverine Herald, McPherson Media

Title Defence, Braden Fastier, The Manly Daily, News Corp Australia

Balmoral Burn, Mosman Daily, News Corp Australia

Hopman Cup, Andrew Ritchie, Western Suburbs Weekly, Community Newspaper Group

Wallow to Winery, Sitthixay Ditthavong, Riverine Herald, McPherson Media

Under the Whip, Renne Powell Forbes Advocate, Fairfax Media

Regional Finalists

Dying Sport, Charlotte Curd, Taranaki Daily, Fairfax Media

Agony and Ecstacy, Glenn Daniels, Bendigo Advertiser, Fairfax Media

Kickass Bull, Wesley Monts, Townsville Bulletin, News Corp Australia

Eyes on the Ball, Brendan Radke, Cairns Post, News Corp Australia

Unseated, Scott Gelston, The Examiner, Fairfax Media

Jungle Juice race Day, Max Mason Hubers, Newcastle Herald, Fairfax Media

Football, Richard Gosling, Gold Coast Bulletin, News Corp Australia

Wicked Wicket, Charlotte Curd, Taranaki Daily News, Fairfax Media

White Water Wonder, Jon Gellweiler, South Western Times, WAN

World Cup Downhill Final, Brenden Radke, Cairns Post, News Corp Australia

National/Metropolitan Finalists

Defying Gravity, Brett Costello, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Red Bull Cape Fear, Rohan Kelly, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Sydney to Hobart, Mark Evans, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Sport Portraits, Brett Costello, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Fernando Alonso's Exit Turn 3, Alexander Coppel, Herald Sun, News Corp Australia

One moment in Time, Phil Hillyard, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Season over for WINX, Adam Taylor, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Champagne Shower, Eddie Jim, The Age, Fairfax Media

Oops!, Dean James Martin, Advertiser, News Corp Australia

Head First, Toby Zerna, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

NEWS

Community Finalists

Reclaim Rally, Perry Duffin, The Maitland Mercury, Fairfax Media

Tough Times, Sitthixay Ditthavong, Riverine Herald, McPherson Media

RAC rescue, Marta Pascual Juanola, Mandurah Mail, Fairfax Media

The Crop, Braden Fastier, The Manly Daily, News Corp Australia

Tony's Election, Braden Fastier, The Manly Daily, News Corp Australia

Christmas Chaos, Sitthixay Ditthavong, Riverine Herald, McPherson Media

Bandit V Bandits, Geoff Jones, Hawkesbury Gazette, Fairfax Media

Celebrating Peace in Western Sydney, Anna Warr, Fairfax Media

Regional Finalists

Ice Fight - Chainsaw Vs Shovel, Nigel Hallett, Geelong Advertiser, News Corp Australia

Domestic Violence, Anna Rogers, Cairns Post, News Corp Australia

An unusual afternoon for retirees, Alden Williams, The Nelson Mail, Fairfax Media

Farewell our Precious Daughter, Robert Peet, Illawarra Mercury, Fairfax Media

After Floods, Azhar Mahfof, The Star, The Star Media Group

Teddy's first swim, Charlotte Curd, Taranaki Daily News, Fairfax Media

Pot of Gold, Glenn Hampson, Gold Coast Bulletin, News Corp Australia

Kirsty Hinze onboard Comanche, Richard Jupe, The Mercury, News Corp Australia

We Got Him, Marc McCormack, Carins Post, News Corp Australia

Recovery, Paul Taylor, Hawkes Bay Today, NZME

National/Metropolitan Finalists

Shelf Cloud, Nicholas Moir, The Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax Media

Coogee Surf, Phil Hillyard, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Melton Madness, Jason Edwards, Herald Sun, News Corp Australia

Seeking Asylum - Kate Geraghty, The Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax Media

Storm Front on Bondi Beach, Rohan Kelly, The Daily Telegraph

Champion, Eddie Jim, The Age, Fairfax Media

Fire at the Doorstep, Justin McManus, The Age, Fairfax Media

Torn apart, Adam Taylor, The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

Close Your Eyes, I love You - Annette Dew, The Courier Mail, News Corp Australia

ENVIRONMENT

Sunday Star Times - 'Foot-it' Campaign - Fairfax NZ

Sydney Print Centre's - Zero Waste Initiatives - News Corp Australia

HEGARTY SCHOLARSHIP

Tyla Harrington, Riverine Herald, McPherson Media

Alecia Rousseau, Manawatu Guardian, NZME

Troy Dodds, The Western Weekender, Western Sydney Publishing Group

Jenna Cairney, Sunshine Coast Daily, APN

Cody Pearson, The Australian, News Corp Australia

Fei Bein Goh, stuff.co.nz, Fairfax Media

Erik Jensen, The Saturday Paper, Schwartz Media

Emily Sweet, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media

Arylene Westlake, Community Newspaper Group,

Jessica Leo-Kelton, Messenger Community News, News Corp Australia

Ben Smee, NT News/Sunday Territorian, News Corp Australia

DIGITAL

Best Mobile Site (Open) Finalists

The Australian, News Corp Australia

AFR iPad App - The Australian Financial Review, Fairfax Media

The Age Tablet - The Age, Fairfax Media

Best Niche/Specialty App or Microsite (Open) Finalists

Shirtfronted - The Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax Media

The Vocal - thevocal.com.au - Fairfax Media

404 error page, theaustralian.com.au - News Corp Australia

The Big Sleep - theage.com.au, Fairfax Media

The Bribe Factory - theage.com.au, Fairfax Media

Comminsure Exposed - theage.com.au, Fairfax Media

Revealed: How 7-Eleven is ripping of its workers - theage.com.au, Fairfax Media

Digital Publishing Innovation of the Year (Open) Finalists

Financial Review, Fairfax Media

Bowraville, The Australian, News Corp Australia

Drive Digital Subscriptions - Toowomba Chronicle & 11 other daily websites, APN

AFR Innovation Surver - The Australian Financial Review, Fairfax Media

Digital Subscription Site Licence, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian

NEWS SITE OF THE YEAR

Community

Mandurah Mail (mandurahmail.com.au), Fairfax Media

The Maitland Mercury (www.maitlandmercury.com.au), Fairfax Media

The South Burnett Times (www.southburnetttimes.com.au), APN

Regional Finalists

Bay of Plenty Times (www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz), NZME

Newcastle Herald (www.herald.com.au), Fairfax Media

The Observer (www.gladstoneobserver.com.au), APN

National/Metropolitan Finalists

Australian Financial Review (afr.com), Fairfax Media

New Zealand Herald (www.nzherald.co.nz), NZME.

The Sydney Morning Herald (www.smh.com.au), Fairfax Media

The Australian (www.theaustralian.com.au), News Corp Australia

The Advertiser, Adelaide (www.advertiser.com.au, News Corp Australia

Herald Sun (www.heraldsun.com.au), News Corp Australia

The Age (theage.com.au), Fairfax Media

NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

NON-DAILY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

Community Finalists

The City, News Corp Australia

The Courier Narrabri, North Western Courier

Macarthur Chronicle, News Corp Australia

Mandurah Mail, Fairfax Media

Riverine Herald, McPherson Media

The Western Weekender, Western Publishing Group

The Northern Miner, News Corp Australia

The Maitland Mercury, Fairfax Media

Regional Finalists

Queensland Country Life, Fairfax Media

Surf Coast Times, Surf Coast News Australia Pty Ltd

The Land, Fairfax Media

North Queensland Register, Fairfax Media

South Western Times, WAN

WEEKEND NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax Media

Sunday Mail QLD, News Corp Australia

AFR Weekend, Fairfax Media

The Sunday Age, Fairfax Media

The Weekend Australian, News Corp Australia

The Saturday Age, Fairfax Media

Weekend Herald, NZME

Herald on Sunday, NZME

The Sunday Times, News Corp Australia

Sunday Star-Times, Fairfax NZ

The Saturday Advertiser, News Corp Australia

The Saturday Paper, Schwartz Media

The Weekend West, Seven West Media WA

Sun Herald, Fairfax Media

DAILY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

Community Finalists

The Gympie Times, APN News Media

Epoch Times, Australian Epoch Times Limited

Manly Daily, News Corp Australia

Regional Finalists

Bay of Plenty Times, NZME

Townsville Bulletin, News Corp Australia

NT News/Sunday Territorian, News Corp Australia

Newcastle Herald, Fairfax Media

Geelong Advertiser, News Corp Australia

Illawarra Mercury, Fairfax Media

Gold Coast Bulletin, News Corp Australia

The Mercury, News Corp Australia

Otago Daily Times, Allied Press

Nelson Mail, Fairfax Media

National/Metropolitan

The Age, Fairfax Media

Courier-Mail, News Corp Australia

The Australian, News Corp Australia

New Zealand Herald, NZME

The Daily Telegraph, News Corp Australia

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax Media

The Australian Financial Review, Fairfax Media

The Advertiser, News Corp Australia

The Canberra Times, Fairfax Media

The West Australian, Seven West Media WA

Herald Sun, News Corp Australia

Judges were David Murphy, Karyn Krawford, David Hovenden, Mary Ann Azer, Andy Moger, Kellie Northwood, Tim Burrowes, Paul Coles, Paul Dovas, Ed Efchak, Andrew Tyndall, Laurie Geddes, Gavin Ellis, Brian Hill, Susan Bredow, Mark Jones, Malcolm Alder, Mark Kennedy, Mark Dadswell, Martin Lane, Mark Challinor, Ava Lawler, David Leeson, Daniel Littlepage, Samuel North, Adrianne Nixon, Nate Cochrane, Michael Rose, Peter Cornelius, Jane Schulze, Craig Sillitoe, Mark Sharman, Cheryl Stanion, John Steedman, John Hancock, Michael Van Wyk, Darren Burden, Simon Wake, Christopher Pash, David Krug, Mark Furness, Herbert Kieleithner, Hugh Martin, Georgie Charlish, Claudia Sagripanti, Mechthild Schimpf, Doug Wills, Hugh Gibson, Damien Munday, Dave Petschack, Tony Gillies, Steve Davis, Peter Fray, Roger Coombs, Rick Neville, John Pender, Jane Nicholls, Eva Rinaldi, Phillip Campbell, Steve Packham, David Roles, Peter Coleman, Peter Clark, Jon Reid.