The Port Orchard Independent received 11 awards in the Washington Newspapers Publishers Associaton’s 2014 Better Newspaper Contest. The awards were presented Oct. 3 at the WNPA’s 127th annual convention at Campbell’s Resort in Chelan.
Graphic designer Kelsey Thomas won first place in the Best Special Section Cover for the Best of South Kitsap cover in the Group 4 competition. Thomas, along with late associate publisher Lorraine May, took second place for Ad Campaign for Single Advertiser for Group 3 and 4 combined with the “Come Explore Port Orchard.”
The Independent staff, along with Central Kitsap Reporter’s Leslie Kelly and Thomas, won second place in the Tourism/Community Guide Special Section in Group 4 for “Discover Kitsap.”
“Season of the Elves” by Thomas, May and former advertising representative Jefferson Blakeslee won second place for Mult-Advertiser Ad (1-2 full pages) in Group 4.
Thomas and former advertising representative Tiffany Walker won third place for “Colello’s Farm Stand Produce” in the best Single Ad for Single Advertiser Promoting a Sale or Event (Smaller than 1/2 page) for Group 4.
Jennifer Chancellor won first place for Best Sports Feature for “South Kitsap’s DeSmet shares sibling bond” in Group 4.
Sports Editor Chris Chancellor won a pair of second-place awards for Group 4’s Best Sports Feature for “Seattle University riding on Smallidge’s success” and Best Education Story for “Rain garden another learning tool for Olalla students.”
Editor Dannie Oliveaux took third place for Best Front Page Design in Group 4 with the Aug. 30, 2013 issue. He also took third in the Color Feature Photo for the “Hunting the Perfect Pumpkin.” Oliveaux and Chancellor combined to win second place in Best Sports Page Design (combined Group 3 and 4) with the Jan. 17 issue.
The annual contest recognizes excellence in editorial, advertising, photography, special sections, online work and service to communities by members of WNPA.
There were 2,600 entries from approximately 80 percent of eligible members.
The contest covered the period of April 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014. The competition was judged by members of the Arizona Newspaper Association.
