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Sound Publishing earns 155 WNPA awards

10.6.09

Sound Publishing, Inc. newspapers collected 155 awards – more than a quarter of the total - at the state Better Newspaper Contest, held in conjunction with the 122nd annual convention of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. Winners were announced at the awards dinner Friday, October 2nd at the Red Lion Hotel In Olympia.

Sound has 26 newspapers that are members of the WNPA and 24 of them garnered awards in General Excellence, News, Photography, Advertising and Online categories.

The Mercer Island Reporter, Federal Way Mirror, Vashon Maury Island Beachcomber, Bainbridge Island Review and North Kitsap Herald were all finalists in the General Excellence category. Mercer Island took first place honors in its circulation class, repeating its performance of last year, while Vashon finished third in the same group. Federal Way placed second in its circulation class, while Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap came in third in their respective groups.

Several Sound staff members earned Premier Individual Awards.

Jennifer Morris (North Kitsap Herald) was named Feature Writer of the Year and Elizabeth Celms (Mercer Island Reporter) was the Finalist.

Joel Willits of the Bellevue Reporter was named Sportswriter of the Year, while Kevin Endejan of the Issaquah Sammamish Reporter was the Finalist in the same category.

Dean Radford of the Renton Reporter was named News Writer of the Year.

Five Sound newspapers won 10 or more awards each. The South Whidbey Record led the pack with 15 awards, followed by the Mercer Island Reporter with 14, Port Orchard Independent with 12, Central Kitsap Reporter with 11 and Bellevue Reporter with 10. Ten more Sound papers won between five and nine awards each.

Sound Publishing editorial content winners
Note: Each prize category awarded first, second and third place prizes to several groups, based on newspaper circulation size, hence the occasional redundancy. For more details download the Excel sheet with the full list of winners.

First Place Best Editorial Page
Federal Way Mirror | Federal Way Mirror editorial page

Feature Writer of the Year: Jen Morris
North Kitsap Herald

Finalist, Feature Writer of the Year: Elizabeth Celms
Mercer Island Reporter

Sportswriter of the Year: Joel Willits
Bellevue Reporter

Finalist, Sportswriter of the Year: Kevin Endejan
Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter

Photographer of the Year: Jesse Beals
Central Kitsap Reporter

Third Place, General Excellence Group II: Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

First Place, General Excellence Group II: Mercer Island Reporter

Third Place, General Excellence Group III: Bainbridge Island Review

Third Place, General Excellence Group IV: North Kitsap Herald

Second Place, General Excellence Group IV: Federal Way Mirror

First Place, Best Online Breaking News
Bellevue Reporter | Joel Willits | Team bus flips on I-5

Third Place, Best Audio Slide Show
Central Kitsap Reporter | Jesse Beals | Whaling Days

Second Place, Best Video Story
Central Kitsap Reporter | Jesse Beals | Hidden Treasures of Kitsap County

First Place, Best Video Story
Central Kitsap Reporter| Jesse Beals | Drinking & Driving, Chpt 1.

Third Place, Best Other Internet Feature
Bellevue Reporter | Joel Willits | Live game coverage

First Place, Best Other Internet Feature
Renton Reporter | Renton Reporter staff | People’s choice

Third Place, Best News Story
Snoqualmie Valley Record | More families to feed

Third Place, Best News Story
Bellevue Reporter | His last day of life

Second Place, Best News Story
Renton Reporter | Big heart, big scam

First Place, Best News Story
Enumclaw Courier-Herald | Schedules

Third Place, Best Breaking News Story
Journal of the San Juan Islands | Super centennial / Town pulls out all the stops for its 100th b’day

Second Place, Best Breaking News Story
South Whidbey Record | Shipyard lays off 30 employees

First Place, Best Breaking News Story
Snoqualmie Valley Record | High water wallops Valley

First Place, Best Breaking News Story
Bellevue Reporter | Bellevue bruised, battered

Third Place, Best Health or Medical Story
South Whidbey Record | Vet struggles with post-war life

Second Place, Best Health or Medical Story
Mercer Island Reporter | A research odyssey

First Place, Best Health or Medical Story
Islands’ Sounder | A matter of minutes to save a heart

Second Place, Best Health or Medical Story
Redmond Reporter | Uphill Battle

First Place, Best Health or Medical Story
Renton Reporter | Walk of Hope

Second Place, Best Environmental Story
Whidbey News-Times | Otter pandemonium: They’re cute but they smell bad

Third Place, Best Environmental Story
Central Kitsap Reporter | Hybrid buses in Kitsap Transit’s future?

First Place, Best Environmental Story
Renton Reporter | Who’s the biggest loser?

First Place, Best Business Story
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber | A brouhaha over raw milk

Third Place, Best Business Story
Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter | Taking a shot: Local tequila hits shelves

First Place, Best Business Story
North Kitsap Herald | Staying Power: Auto Row hopes for good times ahead

Third Place, Best Education Story
Snoqualmie Valley Record | State competition no trivial matter

First Place, Best Education Story
Snoqualmie Valley Record | Editors suspend school paper

Second Place, Best Education Story
Whidbey News-Times | Students demand free speech

Third Place, Best Government Reporting
North Kitsap Herald | Gaining a city hall, but losing a view

Second Place, Best Government Reporting
Port Orchard Independent | PO mayor uses Facebook to settle tourism beef

Third Place, Best Crime and Courts Story
South Whidbey Record | Missing memories

Second Place, Best Crime and Courts Story
South Whidbey Record | Family of sex offender speaks out

First Place, Best Crime and Courts Story
Journal of the San Juan Islands | Reaves: I can’t bring my brother back

Third Place, Best Crime and Courts Story
Whidbey News-Times | Craiglist prostitutes arrested in Oak Harbor

Second Place, Best Crime and Courts Story
Whidbey News-Times | Emotions overflow at sentencing hearing

Third Place, Best Crime and Courts Story
Kirkland Reporter | Hit-and-run ‘hero’?

Second Place, Best Crime and Courts Story
Federal Way Mirror | Investigation exposes flaws in transit center’s video surveillance

First Place, Best Crime and Courts Story
Port Orchard Independent | Former South Kitsap teacher Springer to victim: ‘It was all my fault’

Second Place, Best Investigative Reporting
Bainbridge Island Review | Bainbridge Island rehabilitation facility

Third Place, Best General Feature Story- Long
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber | Looking to a dog to change a boy’s life

Third Place, Best General Feature Story- Long
North Kitsap Herald | Betting on a good time

Third Place, Best General Feature Story- Short
Bellevue Reporter | Learning the notes of love

Second Place, Best General Feature Story- Short
Bellevue Reporter | Following his footsteps

First Place, Best General Feature Story- Short
Kirkland Reporter | ‘Not sure how’ to say goodbye

Third Place, Best Lifestyle Feature Story- any length
Whidbey News-Times | Life afloat

First Place, Best Lifestyle Feature Story- any length
Bothell/Kenmore Reporter | Bothell photographer doing special work

Third Place, Best Personality Profile- Long
Whidbey News-Times | Keen-eyed proofreader turns 100

First Place, Best Personality Profile- Long
Central Kitsap Reporter | The long and winding road to recovery

Second Place, Best Personality Profile- Short
South Whidbey Record | Youth fights hunger, one tater at a time

Third Place, Best Personality Profile- Short
Bothell/Kenmore Reporter | Someone’s in the kitchen with ... Bush

First Place, Best Personality Profile- Short
Bremerton Patriot | Queen for a day

Second Place, Best Story on the Arts
South Whidbey Record | Express Yourself

Second Place, Best News of the Weird
Snoqualmie Valley Record | Raucous rooster round-up

First Place, Best News of the Weird
Journal of the San Juan Islands | Stoddard: ‘Salmon Yoga’ has serious message

Third Place, Best News of the Weird
Bellevue Reporter | Bellevue police find remains…

Second Place, Best News of the Weird
Central Kitsap Reporter | Plasterman not your average working stiff

First Place, Best News of the Weird
Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter | Rooster attacks woman at Front Street bus stop

Second Place, Best Sports News Story
South Whidbey Record | Nick and Trapper

First Place, Best Sports News Story
Mercer Island Reporter | Without fanfare, Coach Pepple retires

Second Place, Best Sports News Story
Port Orchard Independent | Village Greens battling the odds

First Place, Best Sports News Story
Bellevue Reporter | Bellevue Delivers

Third Place, Best Sports Feature
Renton Reporter | Tall on talent

First Place, Best Sports Feature
Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter | Breaking boundaries: Local girls hit the mat

Second Place, Best Sports Personality Profile
Mercer Island Reporter | Neary inspires, helps teach teammates

Second Place, Best Sports Personality Profile
Port Orchard Independent | Westermann returns under trying circumstances

First Place, Best Sports Personality Profile
Redmond Reporter | The ultimate fighter

Third Place, Best Sports Page
South Whidbey Record | Knights shoot out lights

Second Place, Best Sports Page
South Whidbey Record | Blaine clips Falcons

Second Place, Best Comprehensive Coverage of Single Issue
South Whidbey Record | Whidbey PUD - Part 1

Third Place, Best Comprehensive Coverage of Single Issue
Whidbey News-Times | The Smiley Saga

Third Place, Best Comprehensive Coverage of Single Issue
Bellevue Reporter | East Link/Light Rail

First Place, Best Comprehensive Coverage of Single Issue
Port Orchard Independent | Buck’s A&W closure

Second Place, Best Special Section - Topical/Non-Tourism Federal Way Mirror | St. Francis Hospital

Second Place Best Special Section - Tourism/Community Guide
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber | Destination Vashon 2009

Third Place , Best Special Section - Tourism/Community Guide
Enumclaw Courier-Herald | Discover Winter 2008

Second Place, Best Special Section - Tourism/Community Guide
Port Orchard Independent | 2009 Discover Kitsap

Second Place, Best Special Section - Lifestyle/Culture
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber | Vashon Home & Garden 2009

First Place, Best Special Section - Special Events/Festivals
Journal of the San Juan Islands | Friday Harbor Centennial—A Celebration!

Second Place, Best Special Section - Special Events/Festivals
North Kitsap Herald | Poulsbo Centennial

Second Place, Best Special Section Cover
Mercer Island Reporter | 98040 Mercer Island Living

Second Place, Best Special Section Cover
Kent Reporter | The Rotary Club of Kent 50th Anniversary

Third Place, Best Feature Page Design
Islands’ Sounder | Writing gurus inaugurate the Orcas Island Writers Festival

Second Place, Best Feature Page Design
Renton Reporter | Prep year in review

First Place, Best Front Page Design
South Whidbey Record | Battle Sail

Third Place, Best Front Page Design
Whidbey News-Times | (Jan. 28 edition)

First Place, Best Sports Page
Snoqualmie Valley Record | (Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009 edition)

Third Place, Best Editorial Page
Snoqualmie Valley Record | (Jan. 14 & March 18, 2009 editions)

First Place, Best General Interest Column
Renton Reporter Rentonreporter.com | Who will step up; Bryn Mawr church

Second Place, Best Topical Column
South Whidbey Record | In Review

First Place, Best General News Photo- B/W
Port Orchard Independent | Jesse Beals | A Tuneful Learning

Third Place, Best Feature Photo- B/W
Bainbridge Island Review | Brad Camp | Polar Plunge

First Place, Best Scenic or Pictorial Photo B/W
South Whidbey Record | Brian Kelly | Off into the sunset

First Place, Best Photo Essay/Picture Page- B/W
South Whidbey Record | Brian Kelly, Jeff VanDerford, Roy Jacobson | Island County Fair

Second Place, Best Sports Photo - Action- B/W
Bainbridge Island Review | Brad Camp | Eye on the Dive

First Place, Best Sports Photo - Action- B/W
Bainbridge Island Review | Brad Camp | High Sticking It

First Place, Best Sports Photo - Non-Action- B/W
Redmond Reporter | Katherine Ganter | Owls fly past Eagles

Second Place, Best Spot News Photo- Color
Mercer Island Reporter | Chad Coleman | Ouch!

Second Place, Best General News Photo- Color
South Whidbey Record | Brian Kelly | Witness to history

Third Place, Best General News Photo- Color
North Kitsap Herald | Jesse Beals | Tall Ships

Second Place, Best General News Photo- Color
Port Orchard Independent| Jesse Beals | Snake Race

First Place, Best General News Photo- Color
Central Kitsap Reporter | Jesse Beals | Miss Kitsap

Third Place, Best Portrait Photo (Human or Animal) Color
South Whidbey Record | Jeff VanDerford | Denture lady

Second Place, Best Portrait Photo (Human or Animal) Color
Bremerton Patriot | Jesse Beals | Armed Forces Day

Third Place, Best Scenic or Pictorial Photo Color
Central Kitsap Reporter | Jesse Beals | Chico Sunset

Second Place, Best Scenic or Pictorial Photo Color
Central Kitsap Reporter | Jesse Beals | Sunset Boaters

First Place, Best Photo Essay/Picture Page- Color
Mercer Island Reporter | Chad Coleman | Learning the way of the kayak

First Place, Best Photo Essay/Picture Page- Color
Auburn Reporter | Gary Kissel, Mark Klaas | Rockets

Second Place, Best Sports Photo - Action- Color
Mercer Island Reporter | Chad Coleman | Spring Golf

First Place, Best Sports Photo - Action- Color
Mercer Island Reporter | Chad Coleman | Obstructed

Third Place, Best Sports Photo - Action- Color
Bonney Lake-Sumner Courier-Herald | Dennis Box | Water ski

Second Place, Best Sports Photo - Action- Color
Bremerton Patriot | Jesse Beals | Kitsap Rodeo

First Place, Best Sports Photo - Non-Action- Color
Central Kitsap Reporter | Jesse Beals | Lauren Hughes, Archer

Miles Turnbull Best of Show Award
Kitsap Newspaper Group | Jesse Beals | Lauren Hughes, Archer