Journal wins 33 awards at statewide contest

The Shelton-Mason County Journal won 33 awards, including nine first-place prizes, at the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2024 Better Newspaper Contest.

Staff members received their awards at the 137th annual convention Oct. 5 at the Indian Summer Golf & Country Club in Olympia. The entries were judged by members of the Arizona Media Association. Fifty Washington newspapers sent entries.

“Over the last four years, our paper has received more than 100 awards from WNPA,” Journal Publisher John Lester wrote in a statement. “Our readers stop me in the grocery store to tell me how much they enjoy the paper, which is the greatest award of all. I am extremely proud of our staff. Each one from the editor to the delivery people are dedicated to making our community newspaper the best it can be for our readers each and every week.”

Together, graphics designer Kim Fowler and advertising representative Theresa Murray won 12 awards, including two first places. They received a plaque for earning a “clean sweep” in the category of branding ads, earning first, second and third. Fowler also won a first-place award for his OysterFest ad in the category of single advertiser, a half page or larger.

Fowler and customer service manager Karen Hranac won first, second and third place for obituary page design for all circulation sizes.

Editor Justin Johnson placed third for breaking news stories, third for front page design, second for personality profile, long, and second for “Sportswriter of the Year.”

Reporter/photographer Gordon Weeks won five awards for feature writing: first and second place for general feature story, short; first place for personality profile, short; and third place for lifestyle feature story. Weeks placed third for “Feature Writer of the Year.” Weeks also placed third with reporter Kirk Boxleitner for comprehensive coverage, multiple writers.

Columnist and proofreader Kirk Ericson won first place in the category of general interest columns. Photographer Shawna Whelan won second place for breaking news photos. Dave Pierik placed second for youth-oriented content with Crafty Time. Boxleitner placed second for art reviews.

The Journal staff won third place for event/festival sections for the Mason County Forest Festival.