I've just returned from the annual awards ceremony of the Political Studies Association where ConservativeHome.com was recognised as Publication Of The Year. A judging panel chaired by The Times' Peter Riddell gave this explanation:
"www.conservativehome.com has won a deserved reputation for being the most interesting politics website in the UK. From interesting articles, through polemical platforms to the liveliest political blogs and an ability to set agendas, www.conservativehome.com has become compulsive reading for all of us with a serious interest in British politics, irrespective of political loyalties."
I'm pictured with The Spectator's Matthew d'Ancona, who was awarded Journalist of the Year. It was a good day for Conservatives. David Cameron was named Politician of the Year and Richard Bacon Parliamentarian of the Year.
I'm very grateful to Stephan and Rosamund Shakespeare for their unstinting support of ConservativeHome and the great Sam Coates for being a perfect Deputy Editor. That's the closest you'll get to a Gwyneth Paltrow moment here!
It was great for the internet to receive its first PSA Award. At university I ran a magazine that cost £400 and reached about 400 people. £1-a-person. ConservativeHome will receive more than 500,000 hits in November and the supporting software costs just $14.95 per month. 0.003-cents-per-hit. We are only at the beginning of the new media revolution and the massive decentralisation of power it is producing as traditional barriers to entry are swept away. ConservativeHome may have been the first site to be recognised by the PSA but it certainly won't be the last.
Hearty congratulations, Tim, and to everyone involved with running the site.
Posted by: Tom Greeves | November 28, 2006 at 16:03
Wow, congratulations, well done! I heartedly agree.
Posted by: Jorgen | November 28, 2006 at 16:07
Many congratulations Tim. Conservative Home has been a large contibutor in rekindling my interest in politics. It has also immeasurably improved many a dull day in the office,arguing about Cameron,Iraq,Tax etc is so much more interesting than thinking about Mortgages,ISA's and life insurance!
Keep up the good work and I wish you and Sam every success in the future.
Posted by: malcolm | November 28, 2006 at 16:09
Well done.
Posted by: George Hinton | November 28, 2006 at 16:16
Many congratulations, well deserved.
Posted by: Matthew Dear | November 28, 2006 at 16:25
Congratulations ! It is lively and current which is an improvement on TV and its old-fashioned didactic approach to preaching to the great unwashed
Posted by: TomTom | November 28, 2006 at 16:26
Tim & Sam
Well done - Conservative Home does a great job and award well deserved.
Posted by: Ted | November 28, 2006 at 16:27
Hear, hear.
Posted by: aristeides | November 28, 2006 at 16:29
Well done. What you really need now is more Wat Tyler's 100 Policies style breakthroughs.
Posted by: Mark Wadsworth | November 28, 2006 at 16:29
Very well done Tim & Sam, and not wishing to detract from the "men of the moment", and of course to those people who contribute to it by way of their posts......some of whose contributions are better than others mind you. ;):D
Posted by: Paul Kennedy | November 28, 2006 at 16:35
Absolutely Paul - the site depends upon the quality of the comments - some of which are more constructive than others!
Posted by: Editor | November 28, 2006 at 16:41
0.002-pence-per-hit.
You might like to pass on a few tips to Milliband.
Well done to you and Sam. Keep up the good work.
James
Posted by: James Cleverly | November 28, 2006 at 16:46
It is a brave new world where something can have such a huge circulation with negligible capital costs. The internet totally levels the playing field so that talent emerges - you wouldn't find any other institution of equal influence that is co-ran by a 19/20 year old no matter how good they are!
It'll be interesting to see how CH progresses in the future.
Posted by: Pete O'Rourke | November 28, 2006 at 16:58
Congratulations to Tim and Sam. I'm sure the trophy will look great on your desk!
Posted by: Andrew Burkinshaw | November 28, 2006 at 16:58
Congratulations, you deserve it.
Posted by: sjm | November 28, 2006 at 17:12
It couldn't have gone to two more humble, honest and hard-working men, well done!
Posted by: Westminster Woman | November 28, 2006 at 17:17
Who won the award last year?
Posted by: More to the Point | November 28, 2006 at 17:18
The Independent, More to the Point.
More info here: http://www.psa.ac.uk/awards2005/notice.htm
Posted by: Editor | November 28, 2006 at 17:21
An easy decision for the panel. Youve worked bloody hard and we all enjoy the debate even if it can be at some times uncontrollably angry. Some of us disagree on the most fundamental of things but we still understand that we are all in it for the same reason.
The Internet is the future of politics and ConservativeHome is leading the way.
Posted by: James Maskell | November 28, 2006 at 17:25
Well done Tim and Sam!! Also Well done Richard Bacon for picking up yet another award - all well deserved!
Posted by: Sally Roberts | November 28, 2006 at 17:37
Isn't it nice when we all agree on something ;)
< Gwyneth Paltrow moment > Tim has worked very hard over the last twenty months to build ConHome up, I've only been officially involved since the New Year.
He is principled in his views, generous in his personality, and admirably humble for someone neck-deep in the political world. < /Gwyneth Paltrow moment >
Posted by: Deputy Editor | November 28, 2006 at 17:38
You are so right, Sam! ;-)
I agree 100% with your comments about Tim as well!
Posted by: Sally Roberts | November 28, 2006 at 17:41
Don't think that tribute makes up for receiving more applause at the ConHome awards than Mr Montgomerie Sam!
In all seriousness - well done! Here's to a successful 2007 too!
Posted by: Jonathan Sheppard | November 28, 2006 at 17:47
Congratulations from an old (not in years!!) CCO employee..you and the team deserve it. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Sabeeha Mannan | November 28, 2006 at 17:53
Having recently completed a PhD I'm keenly aware of the leftism endemic in academia, but also of the respect the PSA has around the world. This prestigious award, and those given to David Cameron and Richard Bacon, shows that they do have their heads screwed on even though they are prone to lean leftwards!
Posted by: James Walsh | November 28, 2006 at 18:00
Following on from the points made in this post, and by Pete O'Rourke... compare last year's winner, which must have something in the region of several hundred employees, to Tim and Sam on their laptops! A remarkable achievement for them both, times are a-changing indeed.
Posted by: Anthony Brodders | November 28, 2006 at 18:04
I too am delighted for you both; you have worked immensely hard and you have given us a way to fight back, if only in small measure at the moment, against this thoroughly illiberal government. Congratulations; keep up the good work and let us hope that our thinking can also have some influence on conservative policies.
Posted by: David Belchamber | November 28, 2006 at 18:08
Thoroughly deserved.
Posted by: Denis Cooper | November 28, 2006 at 18:28
Good work Tim!
Posted by: Richard | November 28, 2006 at 18:53
Yeah, yeah... well done the editorial johnnies -yawn-. But obviously the award is for all of us, too many to attend the prize giving, of course. So if you'll bear with me, I'd just like to thank my lovely wife, beautiful daughters, my agent, stylist, special advisers, vet, postman and anyone else who knows me.
Posted by: Og | November 28, 2006 at 19:54
Congratulations, Tim and Sam.
Your site is a fantsastic achievement.
Posted by: Esbonio | November 28, 2006 at 19:59
Congratulations to both Tim and Sam. A triumph for free speech and one in the eye for the goons, thugs, control freaks and assorted Westminster pond life who spend their time, and boatloads of taxpayers' money, suppressing debate.
Posted by: Michael McGowan | November 28, 2006 at 20:23
Hearty congratulations from a steady sound tory reader in Norway.
The web-site is great, and provide so much info on the Tories and UK politics, prima for a political junkie like me.
Again, congratulations, and the best of luck in the coming years!!
Posted by: Morten Fjeldberg | November 28, 2006 at 20:32
A well deserved award Tim. You and Sam have made a tremendous contribution to the advancement of the conservative cause through this excellent site.
Your site gives members and supporters an opportunity to share ideas and to keep in touch with each other. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Cllr Joe Mooney | November 28, 2006 at 21:38
Well done Tim and Sam. Definately deserved!
Posted by: Rob Largan | November 28, 2006 at 21:46
Well done, Tim and Sam. Haven't been visiting as much recently, and don't always agree with the editorial line, but credit where it's due - you've done an excellent job with Conservative Home. Keep up the good work!
PS - Rob (if you're still reading), are you at Uni of Manchester? Was going to add you on Facebook, but not sure if it's you?
Posted by: Daniel VA | November 28, 2006 at 22:08
Congratulations.
Posted by: Graeme Archer | November 29, 2006 at 12:12
Congratulation Tim, Sam and latterly Jonathan.
This really is well deserved. No-one mentioned how important sites like this are for democracy to thrive. Keep going - there are quite a lot of people out there who have yet to realise what an impact you and others like you have ensuring people get the voice and representation they deserve.
Posted by: chris emmett | January 21, 2009 at 22:01
A fine achievement. You should all be proud!
Posted by: Julian L Hawksworth | January 21, 2009 at 22:21