Sequim Gazette staffers earn statewide honors in 2023 WNPA newspaper contest

By Sequim Gazette Staff • October 11, 2023 1:30 am
Sequim Gazette award winners from Washington Newspaper Publisher’s Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest include (clockwise, from top left): Matthew Nash’s photo of 2-and-a-half-year-old Parker Lomker’s fantastic Halloween display, second place in the Portrait Photo division; Nash’s May 2022 feature about Sequim High graduate David Piper’s efforts to distribute wheelchairs and build homes for Guatemalans in need, a first place in the General Feature Story (short) division; Michael Dashiell’s photo of 15-month-old Thomas Hanna at the newly-lit historic Railroad Bridge at Railroad Bridge Park, first place in the Portrait Photo division; and, Lara Stanton’s advertisement for The Lodge at Sherwood Village, second place in the contest’s Romantic Ads division.
Sequim Gazette award winners from Washington Newspaper Publisher’s Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest include (clockwise, from top left): Matthew Nash’s photo of 2-and-a-half-year-old Parker Lomker’s fantastic Halloween display, second place in the Portrait Photo division; Nash’s May 2022 feature about Sequim High graduate David Piper’s efforts to distribute wheelchairs and build homes for Guatemalans in need, a first place in the General Feature Story (short) division; Michael Dashiell’s photo of 15-month-old Thomas Hanna at the newly-lit historic Railroad Bridge at Railroad Bridge Park, first place in the Portrait Photo division; and, Lara Stanton’s advertisement for The Lodge at Sherwood Village, second place in the contest’s Romantic Ads division.

Staff from the Sequim Gazette earned 18 individual and team honors at the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s Better Newspaper Contest (BNC) this past weekend.

The 2023 BNC awards were announced at a ceremony on Oct. 7 at the organization’s annual convention in Kennewick, where professionals recognized top industry work at Washington non-daily and small daily newspapers.

The Gazette, a Sound Publishing newspaper, earned second place in general excellence in WNPA’s Group 2 among WNPA’s four circulation groups. Some of Group 2 includes the Whitman County Gazette, Mercer Island Reporter, Methow Valley News, Anacortes American and Bainbridge Island Review newspapers.

Sequim Gazette editor Michael Dashiell was selected Sportswriter of the Year, a category open to all divisions. He earned the distinction in 2006, 2008 and 2013.

The contest considered writing, design, photography, advertising and web content from newspapers statewide between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023.

The Montana Newspaper Association judged this year’s WNPA contest, with submissions totaling 931 news pieces, 292 photo entries, 211 advertisements and 97 special sections from 47 participating newspapers.

Sequim Gazette’s 2023 BNC honors include:

Writing

Matthew Nash

• First place, General Feature Story-Short, Group 2 (“Missionary helps complete home for widow”)

• Second place, Social Issues Story, Group 2 (“The housing crunch”)

• Second place, Election Story, Group 2 (“Officials, observers talk election processes, security”)

Emily Matthiessen

• First place, Arts Feature or Story, Group 2 (“Driftwood artist creations soar”)

• Second place, Personality Profile-Long, Group 2 (“Kennel Club’s Cornell leaves a legacy”)

• Third place, General Feature Story-Short, Group 2 (WAG raising funds for injured lab/husky mix”)

Michael Dashiell

• Sportswriter of the Year (all divisions)

• First place, Education Story, Group 2 (“Students form a Mock Trial Club”)

• First place, Sports News Story, Group 2 (“Henninger helps WWU’s Vikings score national title”)

• First place, Sports Personality Profile, Groups 1-2 (“Career on the pickleball court”)

Matthew Nash/Michael Dashiell

• First place, General Feature Story-Long, Group 2 (“Sequim students seek Boys in the Boat’ screening”)

Photography

Matthew Nash

• Second Place, Portrait Photo, Group 2 (“Pumpkins, skeletons fall in line”)

Michael Dashiell

• First place, General News Photo, Group 2 (“Sequim mourns its lost firefighter”)

• First Place, Portrait Photo, Group 2 (“Wonder of the Holidays”)

Design, web content

Michael Dashiell

• Second place, Editorial pages (all divisions)

Advertising/Ad design

Lara Stanton

• Second place, Ads Featuring Animals, Groups 1-2 (“Olympic Game Farm”)

• Second place, Romantic Ads, Groups 1-4 (“The Lodge at Sherwood Village”)