Last Breath

The front page of the Western Mail’s October 1 edition was described by judges as “memorable, combining creative use of the picture with a simple headline to stunning effect… It tells a compelling and important story in a striking way.”

Recognising the significance of the day the final blast furnace at Port Talbot steelworks would be shut down, the Western Mail dedicated an entire front page to a single image of the final furnace to be taken out of service. The chosen image of steam from the last venting lent itself perfectly to the resulting “powerful” headline, and a memorable and impactful front page was created.

The team were commended for purposefully negating to run any plugs on page, so as not to detract from the striking image, or indeed the historic moment in Welsh history. Along with the headline, judges also praised the combination of “well chosen words…and the excellent choice of picture [to] convey the gravity of the occasion”.

The high-impact treatment of such a significant event proved a success with Western Mail readers: the October 1 edition was, in circulation terms, up 5.1% week on week. “This is a brilliant example of front page design which stands out in a crowded field,” judges said.