Staff from The Islands’ Sounder and Journal of the San Juan Islands took home 33 state newspaper awards this month. Winners of the 2018 Washington Better Newspaper Contest were announced during the 131st annual meeting of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association in Yakima, Oct. 11-13. Approximately 62 papers statewide participate in the contest. This year, judges for Washington papers were from Wisconsin.
Both the Sounder and Journal a staff won awards for special sections: first place for “Savor in the San Juans”; first place for “Springtide Visitors Guide”; and second place for “Wedding in the San Juans.” The Journal also earned third place in general excellence for the overall publication. Individual Sounder staff members also received the following honors:
• News Story, Short: second place, Mandi Johnson, “Hiker and Missing Dog Rescued.”
• Environmental Story: first place, Colleen Smith, “The Litter Man of Orcas.” Second place: Mandi Johnson, “Fish Farm Failure.” Third place: Mandi Johnson, “Vessel Noise affects Whales.”
• Business Feature Story: first place, Colleen Smith, “A Journey of Two: certified midwife comes to Orcas.”
• Social Issue Story: third place, Mandi Johnson, “Stand Up Men’s Message.”
• Comprehensive Coverage: first place, Hayley Day and Colleen Smith, “Funding the Ferries.” Second place: Hayley Day, Heather Spaulding, Mandi Johnson, coverage of the orcas.
• General feature story, Short: third place, Mandi Johnson. “Lighthouse Celebrates 124 years.”
• Story on the Arts: first place, Colleen Smith, “A Timeless Island Classic: A Christmas Carol is Back.” Second place, Colleen Smith, “The Tempest.”
• Editorial: second place, Colleen Smith, “Ferry Wake-up Call.”
• General News Photo: second place, Mandi Johnson, “A Call for Action,” coverage of school vigil.
• Color Feature Photo: first place, Colleen Smith, “Big Sister helps in the Ring,” coverage of county fair horse events. Second place: Colleen Smith, “Prospero and Miranda,” coverage of local production of “The Tempest.” Third place, Colleen Smith, “A Girl and her Horse,” county fair coverage.
• Color Sports Photo, Action: first place, Colleen Smith, “High Jump,” Vikings’ basketball. Second place: Colleen Smith, “Riding for the Win.” Third place: Mandi Johnson, “Big Catch,” Vikings’ boys soccer.
