Since its launch in 1985, the Sutton Coldfield Observer has grown to become one of Britain's biggest and best free newspapers.
Launched after the demise of the short-lived Sutton Coldfield Times, the Observer soon cemented its position for campaigning journalism and entertaining writing.
Delivering to more than 57,000 homes in the former Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield and its surrounding areas, the multi award-winning Observer has scooped many of British Journalism's biggest prizes.
These include:
Newspaper Society Free Newspaper of the Year
Newspaper Society News Journalist of the Year (three times)
Newspaper Society Feature Journalist of the Year (twice)
Midlands Media Awards News Journalist of the Year
Newspaper Society Free Weekly Photographer of the Year
Newspaper Society Campaign of the Year
Honing in on local, grass-root issues, the Observer offers a quirky mix of editorial content, from hard-hitting news to lighter features and a weekly 16-page leisure guide..
The Observer regularly breaks exclusives on issues that make a difference to readers' lives..
The Observer also has a strong reputation as a campaigning newspaper..
In 2004 the Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, conceded that the paper's 'Keep Justice Local' campaign to save the town's magistrate's court had helped persuade him to block closure plans..
Other campaigns have included fighting for the inclusion of a local soldier's name on a war memorial and raising cash for Romanian orphans..
In 2004 the Observer's Great Midlands Fun Run raised a staggering £82,000 for charities in the town. The same event in 2005 attracted even more runners - 3,650 - and hopes are high that even more charity cash will be raised..
Each week the Observer also publishes an exhaustive property section, with hundreds of homes for sale in the affluent suburbs of North Birmingham and the surrounding villages..
The paper also boasts a vibrant classified section, the latest situations vacant and a huge selection of cars for sale in the area, whether private sales or through dealerships..
In 1990 a sister title, the Great Barr Observer was launched, covering the area to the North West of Birmingham..
Industry research:
Independently-carried out 'JICREG' research in 2003 found the Sutton Coldfield Observer had an impressive reading time of 31 minutes each week. Readers also overwhelmingly chose it as their free newspaper of choice..
96% rated our coverage of news as good or OK. It also found 56,000 people turned to the Observer first for local news, compared to just 4,000 for our nearest rivals.
(TNS Media 2003. Base: all adults 15+ (31)
