Sequim Gazette staffers, columnist earn statewide honors

By Sequim Gazette Staff • October 19, 2022 1:30 am
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Sequim fiber artist Marla Varner stands in front of her temperature quilt. Each square is color coded to the high and low temperatures of each day of 2021 in her neighborhood in Sequim, with the smallest quarter circles signifying precipitation. This portrait photo earned photographer Emily Matthiessen a third place in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Sequim fiber artist Marla Varner stands in front of her temperature quilt. Each square is color coded to the high and low temperatures of each day of 2021 in her neighborhood in Sequim, with the smallest quarter circles signifying precipitation. This portrait photo earned photographer Emily Matthiessen a third place in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.

Several staffers and contributors at the Sequim Gazette earned kudos from fellow journalists at the 135th-annual Washington Newspaper Publishers Association (WNPA) annual convention and Better Newspaper Contest earlier this month.

Professionals recognized top industry work at Washington state non-daily and small daily newspapers at the association’s annual convention, held Oct. 7-9 in Bellingham.

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 Bainbridge Island Review, Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber, Stanwood-Camano News, Chewelah Independent, Nisqually Valley News, Methow Valley News and The Courier-Herald (Enumclaw) newspapers.

The contest considered writing, design, photography, advertising and web content from newspapers statewide between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, and special sections between June 1, 2021, and May 31, 2022.

“I am proud of the work our team does each and every week,” said Terry Ward, vice president of Sound Publishing and publisher of the Sequim Gazette, Peninsula Daily News and Forks Forum.

“It is especially great to see them recognized by their peers. The Sequim community is fortunate to have such an outstanding group of professionals working on their behalf.”

The South Dakota Press Association judged this year’s WNPA contest, with submissions totaling 1,166 news entries, 280 photos, 231 advertisements, 75 special sections and 30 digital/web submissions from 48 participating newspapers.

Sequim Gazette’s 2022 honors include:

• Writing

Matthew Nash

• First place, News Story-Short (“City, Catholic church partner on crosswalk,” Sept. 22, 2021)

Matthew Nash’s “City, Catholic church partner on pedestrian crosswalk,” earned a first place in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.

Matthew Nash’s “City, Catholic church partner on pedestrian crosswalk,” earned a first place in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.

• Second place, Business News Story (“Eateries seek support, workers during crisis,” Sept. 15, 2021)

• Third place, Business Feature Story (“The fibers of family,” Oct. 6, 2021)

• Third place, Health-Medical Story (“New option to help tame tremors from afar,” Sept. 29, 2021)

• Third place, Social Issue Story (“Juneteenth, alleged hate crime bring 140 to protest,” June 23, 2021)

• Third place, Feature Writer of the Year

Emily Matthiessen

• Third place, History Feature Story (“Gone but not forgotten,” Oct. 20, 2021)

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Using a chisel and hammer, Chris Smith chips away white mortar from the headstone of the infant son of R. and Eleanor Irwin, in the corner of Pioneer Memorial Park. The photo, “Gone by not forgotten,” earned Emily Matthiessen a third place in the/W Feature, Portrait or Pictorial Photo division in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Using a chisel and hammer, Chris Smith chips away white mortar from the headstone of the infant son of R. and Eleanor Irwin, in the corner of Pioneer Memorial Park. The photo, “Gone by not forgotten,” earned Emily Matthiessen a third place in the/W Feature, Portrait or Pictorial Photo division in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.

Michael Dashiell

• Second place, Education Story (“Mask dispute postpones school board meeting,” Sept. 15, 2021)

• Third place, Government Story (“Mayor’s T-shirt draws criticism, support,” May 12, 2021)

Bertha Cooper

• First place, Editorial (“Wardrobe Maleficence,” May 28, 2021)

• Photography

Emily Matthiessen

• Third place, B/W Feature, Portrait or Pictorial Photo (“Gone but not forgotten,” Oct. 20, 2021)

• Third place, Color Portrait Photo, Groups 1-2 (“Stitching together the colorful pieces,” Jan. 26, 2022)

Michael Dashiell

• First place, B/W Feature, Portrait or Pictorial Photo (“Starlings in search of supper,” May 26, 2021)

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / It’s feeding time for these local starlings, perched atop a fence near downtown Sequim. The photo earned Gazette editor Michael Dashiell a first place in the B/W Feature, Portrait or Pictorial Photo division in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / It’s feeding time for these local starlings, perched atop a fence near downtown Sequim. The photo earned Gazette editor Michael Dashiell a first place in the B/W Feature, Portrait or Pictorial Photo division in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.

• First place, B/W Sports Photo (“Wrestling donut,” June 9, 2021)

• Third place, Color Sports Action Photo (“Wolves top Roughriders,” Sept. 15, 2021)

• Special Sections

Drew Herman, Raquee Rivera

• Second place, Tourism, Groups 1-2 (“North Olympic Peninsula Visitor Guide 2022”)

Drew Herman and Raquee Rivera earned a third place in the Special Section-Tourism division the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.

Drew Herman and Raquee Rivera earned a third place in the Special Section-Tourism division the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.

Drew Herman, Molly Omann, Raquee Rivera

• Third place, Event/Festival, Groups 1-4 (“Lavender Season”)

Special Sections

Drew Herman, Raquee Rivera

• Second place, Tourism, Groups 1-2 (“North Olympic Peninsula Visitor Guide 2022”)

Drew Herman, Molly Omann, Raquee Rivera

• Third place, Event/Festival, Groups 1-4 (“Lavender Season”)

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell Sequim’s Sam Fitzgerald, top, grapples with Bainbridge wrestler Quenton Ikuse in an Olympic League double dual in Sequim on June 5. The photo earned Gazette editor Michael Dashiell a first place in the B/W Sports Photo division in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell Sequim’s Sam Fitzgerald, top, grapples with Bainbridge wrestler Quenton Ikuse in an Olympic League double dual in Sequim on June 5. The photo earned Gazette editor Michael Dashiell a first place in the B/W Sports Photo division in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.