Newspapers owned by Sound Publishing finished with 217 awards in the 2014 Better Newspaper Contest, judged by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association.
The results were announced Oct. 3 at the awards dinner during WNPA’s 127th annual convention at Campbell’sResort in Chelan. The annual contest recognizes excellence in editorial, advertising, photography, special sections, online work and service to communities by members of WNPA. Sound Publishing earned 69 first place awards.
Sound Publishing is the state’s largest community news organization, publishing 38 community daily, weekly and monthly news products. Those publications include the Covington-Maple Valley-Black Diamond Reporter, Enumclaw Courier Herald and Bonney Lake-Sumner Courier Herald. The Covington paper is in Group IV, against other newspapers with a circulation of 12,501 or more. Enumclaw and Bonney Lake are in Group III, with a circulation between 5,001-12,500.
ADVERTISING DIVISION
First Place
• Best Single Ad for Single Advertiser Promoting a Sale or Event (smaller than half-page: Martha Boston, Brandy Pickering – Enumclaw – “Sip City”
• Use of Process Color (smaller than half-page): Dottie Bergstresser, Brandy Pickering – Enumclaw – “Avalanche Delite”
Second Place
• Best Single Ad for Single Advertiser Promoting a Sale or Event (smaller than half-page): Dottie Bergstresser, Kathy McCauley- Bonney Lake – “Fugate”
• Promotion of Newspaper: Kathy McCauley, Scott Gray – Enumclaw – “Centennial House Ad”
• Special sections: Bonney Lake staff – “Ads designed by kids section”
Third Place
• Use of Clip Art in an Ad: Dottie Bergstresser, Brandy Pickering – Enumclaw – “Circus”
• Youth-Oriented Content: Enumclaw staff – “Back to School”
NEWS DIVISION
First Place
• Best News Story: Sarah Wehmann – Bonney Lake – “Local children organize gifts for hospital”
• Best Environmental Story: Eric Mandel – Covington – “‘Wild’ idea presented for Maple Valley land”
• Best Crime and Court Story: Dennis Box – Covington – “Black Diamond denies police officer’s claims”
• Investigative Reporting: Eric Mandel and Dennis Box – Covington – “City council asks mayor to step down”
• Best General Feature Story (short): Katherine Smith- Covington – “Chess wizards bring magic to classic game”
Second Place
• Best Personality Profile (long): Katherine Smith – “Father, son team up to get out alive”
Third Place
• Best Personality Profile: Sarah Wehmann – Bonney Lake – “Former Sumner student aims to make millions”
• Best News Story (short) – Sarah Wehmann – Bonney Lake – “Grandparent Scam hits close to home”
• Best Personality Profile (short) – Dennis Box – Enumclaw – “Rob Reynolds’ four-year mission”
• Best Story on the Arts: Theresa De Lay – Bonney Lake – “Bonney Lake’s own Man in Black to play”
• News of the Weird: Eric Mandel – Covington – “Felony charges for bizarre burglary”
News Writer of the Year
• Finalist – Eric Mandel – Covington
