CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Newspapers in Cheyenne, Jackson and Pinedale have been honored as Wyoming’s best in 2016.
The Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Jackson Hole News & Guide and Sublette Examiner were named the top Wyoming daily, large weekly and small weekly newspapers, respectively, in the Wyoming Press Association’s annual general excellence competition during ceremonies in Cheyenne on Saturday.
“We’re always proud of the work of our Wyoming newspapers,” said Bob Kennedy of the Cody Enterprise, who was elected during the weekend to serve as the WPA’s president in 2017. “It’s always nice to hear from judges in other states that they agree with our assessment of our papers - that they are some of the best in the nation.”
The general excellence award is one of five major awards given to Wyoming newspapers during the convention and is based on factors including writing quality, advertising, sports and news coverage and layout and design.
The winners were determined in judging by members of the North Dakota Newspaper Association.
In addition to claiming first for general excellence, the Tribune Eagle won top honors for advertising and typographic excellence. Following the Tribune Eagle in second place for general excellence was the Casper Star-Tribune, which also placed second for editorial, advertising and typographic excellence.
The Riverton Ranger won the WPA’s editorial leadership award.
Winning first for photographic excellence among daily newspapers was the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, while a photo taken by Justin Sheely of The Sheridan Press was named the best photo of the year for dailies. Hugh Carey of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle was named top photographer for dailies.
Among large weekly newspapers, those with a circulation above 2,500, the Jackson Hole News & Guide placed first for general excellence, advertising excellence and typographic excellence and placed second for editorial leadership.
Winning top editorial honors was the Douglas Budget, which also finished second for advertising excellence. The Powell Tribune placed second for general excellence, while the Cody Enterprise placed second for typographic excellence.
The Jackson Hole News & Guide won the WPA’s photographic excellence prize for large weekly newspapers. A photo by the News & Guide’s Bradly Boner was named the best photo among large weeklies and was named the WPA’s photo of the year. News & Guide photographer Ryan Dorgan was named the WPA’s photographer of the year and the best photographer among large weekly newspapers.
Among small weekly newspapers, the Sublette Examiner placed first for general excellence, followed by the Dubois Frontier. The Saratoga Sun won the editorial leadership award, followed by the Newcastle News Letter Journal.
The News Letter Journal earned top honors for advertising excellence, followed in second by the Glenrock Independent, which also took first in typographic excellence. Placing second for typographic excellence was the Sundance Times.
In competition for photographic excellence, the Thermopolis Independent Record placed first. A photo by Phillip Harnden of the Glenrock Independent was selected as the best photo of the year among small weeklies, while the Dubois Frontier’s Vic Augustine was selected as the best photographer of the year for small weekly newspapers.
In other competitions, North Dakota judges selected the Jackson Hole News & Guide’s Melissa Cassutt as the WPA’s young journalist of the year, while Kathy Brown of the Gillette News Record was named the veteran journalist of the year.
Bruce Moats, a former newspaper editor who now frequently represents newspapers in legal efforts to open access to government activities, was named the winner of the Milton Cilcott Award. This is only the fourth time the award has been given in more than 20 years. It is awarded to a person who puts forth an extraordinary effort to protect access to government information.
Joe McGowan, a former Associated Press bureau chief who began his newspaper career in Wyoming, was named the newest inductee into the WPA Foundation’s Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals for their lasting impact on Wyoming’s newspaper industry.
In addition to electing Kennedy as president, the WPA’s Board of Directors elected Deb Sutton of the Rocket-Miner in Rock Springs as its vice president. Mark Tesoro, publisher of the Uinta County Herald, was elected secretary treasurer.
WPA members also filled three vacancies on the board, electing Stephanie Bonnar of the Newcastle News Letter Journal, Kristen Czaban of The Sheridan Press and Kevin Olson of the Jackson Hole News & Guide to serve three-year terms on the board representing small weekly, daily and large weekly newspapers, respectively.
The Wyoming Press Association is a trade association that represents all 44 of Wyoming’s legal newspapers in areas including education, public relations and lobbying.
WPA MAJOR AWARDS 2016
Dailies
General Excellence
1. Wyoming Tribune Eagle
2. Casper Star-Tribune
Editorial Excellence
1. Riverton Ranger
2. Casper Star-Tribune
Photographic Excellence
1. Wyoming Tribune Eagle
2. Casper Star-Tribune
Advertising Excellence
1. Wyoming Tribune Eagle
2. Casper Star-Tribune
Typographic Excellence
1. Wyoming Tribune Eagle
2. Casper Star-Tribune
Large Weeklies
General Excellence
1. Jackson Hole News & Guide
2. Powell Tribune
Editorial Excellence
1. Douglas Budget
2. Jackson Hole News & Guide
Photographic Excellence
1. Jackson Hole News & Guide
2. Powell Tribune
Advertising Excellence
1. Jackson Hole News & Guide
2. Douglas Budget
Typographic Excellence
1. Jackson Hole News & Guide
2. Cody Enterprise
Small Weeklies
General Excellence
1. Sublette Examiner
2. Dubois Frontier
Editorial Excellence
1. Saratoga Sun
2. Newcastle News Letter Journal
Photographic Excellence
1. Thermopolis Independent Record
2. Glenrock Independent
Advertising Excellence
1. Newcastle News Letter Journal
2. Glenrock Independent
Typographic Excellence
1. Glenrock Independent
2. Sundance Times
Young Journalist of the Year: Melissa Cassutt, Jackson Hole News & Guide
Veteran Journalist of the Year: Kathy Brown, Gillette News-Record
Photographer of the Year: Ryan Dorgan, Jackson Hole News & Guide
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