2010 BNC Booklet

Booklet Design & Layout by: Sylvie Tremblay of Enigma Graphix Concepts

OCNA 2010 Better Newspapers Competition Results

TABLE OF CONTENTS

President’s Message

Another spring has arrived, along with it April showers, May flowers and the Ontario Community Newspapers Association’s Better Newspapers Competition Results. This year, along with so many others, it has given our members the opportunity to display their finest work. It is competitions like these that allow us to strive to be the best and give us the opportunity to shine.

Our review of last year’s program resulted in a few changes to the Award’s program. A few of the categories were combined and new ones added. Best Broadsheet Front Page was combined with the two Best Tabloid categories to become Best Front Page – circulation over & under 10,000. Cartoonist of the year & Best Creative Advertisement were each made into one category regardless of circulation. The web portal and website categories were combined into Best Community Website/Webportal. The College & University Student Categories now include a new Best Newspaper Website category.

A special thank you goes out to our volunteer judges! As usual, they are to be commended for their hard work and dedication to making the Community Newspaper Industry the best it can be. Each one has spent countless hours dedicating their attention and expertise to the many entries received.

Many thanks to all members who sent us entries for the competition – we received over 1,600 of them! It won’t be long before Community Newspaper personnel across Ontario are once again going through a year’s worth of newspapers to provide their best work for the 2011 Better Newspapers Competition. Your participation and contributions allow the Ontario Community Newspaper Industry to thrive!

Don MacLeod OCNA President 2010/11

General Excellence

Classes 1- 8

SECOND PLACE

MINDEN TIMES

The Minden Times had a good selection of photographs and stories throughout each issue. The editorial and opinion pages had lots of letters, a spacious layout and diverse opinions. The editorials had clear messages that were worth reading. Photographs were generally of good quality and avoided the use of static images. Good advertising content.

JUDGES

FIRST PLACE

BARRYS BAY THIS WEEK

Barry’s Bay This Week was a pleasure to read. The paper is very clean and the photography is certainly one of its greatest qualities. Local news and interest stories throughout truly make it a community newspaper. Particularly impressed with the sports pages and local features.

THIRD PLACE

GRAVENHURST BANNER

The Gravenhurst Banner placed third in this category thanks to an outstanding commitment to coverage of its community. The Banner presents to its readers a comprehensive package of stories and photos from every aspect of community life. Strong front pages give way to great content inside. The excellent coverage is packaged attractively and is supported by high quality display advertising and classified pages.

HONOURABLE MENTION – The Manotick Messenger’s front page has a clean, bold design and a good choice of main photos. The layout of the paper is generally good. Stories in the paper were very readable. It had good editorials, and the advertising design was bold and attention-getting in most cases. A good balance of community news with hard news stories.

Barry Glass Managing Editor, Prince Albert Daily Herald, Rural Roots, Prince Albert, Sasketchewan

Todd Goodyear Business/Sales Manager, The Labradorian, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland

Frank McTighe Editor and Publisher, The Macleod Gazette, Fort MacLeod, Alberta

SECOND PLACE

BRACEBRIDGE EXAMINER

The mix of hard news, sports and feature stories make the Bracebridge Examiner a paper with something for everyone in its pages. The photography stood out, especially in the sizable sports section. Some of the stories were lengthy and would have been more effective if split into two or three shorter pieces instead of one long piece. However, this paper just looks good and is easy to read. It has a lot of letters to the editor and well-written, local editorials.

FIRST PLACE

PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR

The Parry Sound North Star begins with a strong front page and follows through with good writing and photography throughout. The paper is divided into sections, which makes it easy to follow, and the sports page has several action photos. Some of the stories were quite lengthy and the resulting grey wall of text was a little overwhelming. It has many letters to the editor, illustrating that the readership values the paper, and sees it as a community forum.

THIRD PLACE

HALIBURTON COUNTY ECHO

The Haliburton County Echo is a solid tabloid with a good mix of content and plenty of local faces in the photographs. This paper is characterized by big photos and a lot of them, which is great to see. It has good local editorials and lots of letters to the editor. I really liked the “Cottage Times” section, and the great local features. A good, comprehensive paper.

HONOURABLE MENTION – The Burks Falls Almaguin News - Covering a wide region is no easy task. The Burks Falls Almaguin News attempts to have a presence in multiple communities and manages to achieve this task. Stories, particularly on the front page, keep the reader wanting more. This paper had strong writing with good leads, regional news, and organization of the paper into clear sections. The secondary school page brings youth into the paper.

John Arendt Editor, Summerland Review, Summerland, British Columbia

Teresa Bird Publisher/Editor, North Island Gazette, Port Hardy, British Columbia

Rob Vogt Editor, Claresholm Local Press, Alberta

SECOND PLACE

HUNTSVILLE FORESTER

The Huntsville Forester seems to know its community. It has solid coverage, and good, relevant opinion writing. It combines good news coverage with a strong dedication to sports.

FIRST PLACE

FORT FRANCES TIMES

The Fort Frances Times rose to the top of the pile for the quality and breadth of its local coverage. This newspaper seems to take its role seriously, and covers a wide range of local issues. It’s sport section was the best in the group.

THIRD PLACE

NUNAVUT NEWS/NORTH

Nunavut News

North is a beautiful looking newspaper. Photography and design are excellent and news coverage is solid. It featured a ton of community news, with strong photography and a commitment to sports.

Devon Judge Editor, BugleObserver, Woodstock, New Brunswick

Kevin Weedmark Editor & Publisher, The World-Spectator, Moosomin, Saskatchewan

Garrett Simmons Managing Editor, Taber Times , Taber, Alberta

SECOND PLACE

NIAGARA THIS WEEK, THE LEADER

From front to back, The Niagara This Week Leader excels. Wonderfully composed photos and expertly written copy make it a great read. Even though advertising in the paper is abundant, individual ads are not confused by similar composition. Staff writer Eddie Chau is a standout, with awesome ledes and quick, concise news stories.

FIRST PLACE

STOUFFVILLE SUN - TRIBUNE

The Stouffville Sun-Tribune is simply excellent. Compelling photos and headlines, exceptional layout, great news stories, features and photo spreads make every page enjoyable. The use of pull quotes gives the reader a break from lines and lines of copy, and the tight writing makes the paper easy to read. Also notable is the nicely put together sports section, with good use of graphics, photos and briefs to inform fans.

THIRD PLACE

PICTON GAZETTE

The Picton Gazette draws the reader in with excellent photography, keeps them interested with tight, well-written stories and uses beautifully built ads to complete their package. Having been publishing since 1830, they have obviously changed with the times and learned something or two along the way.

Sponsored by Metro Creative Graphics

Dave Newell Editor, Advertiser, Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland

Stephanie Matches Publisher, Whistler Question & The Magazine, Whistler, British Columbia

Jason Roessle Editor, Mission Record, Mission, British Columbia

SECOND PLACE

ELMIRAWOOLWICH OBSERVER

Both before and after the Elmira-Woolwich Observer’s redesign, page design and photography are their strong suits. The design stretches far beyond the default system fonts, and layout is tight, without extraneous white space. The photography is nice and sharp, showing lots of impact and imagination at times. Community news writing could be stronger, which held it back from placing higher.

JUDGES

FIRST PLACE

PORT PERRY STAR

The Port Perry Star took top spot thanks to solid showings in all judging areas across the board. Community news is well-written; the photography is sharp, technically proficient and shows lots of human emotion. The layout and page design is very well-done, and shows a lot of imagination and technical proficiency, especially when dealing with local features. The editorials strongly take a position on the particular issue, and the columnists offer a unique take on local issues. Arts coverage is strong; I would like to see more space devoted to sports coverage.

THIRD PLACE

GRIMSBY LINCOLN NEWS

The Grimsby Lincoln News had strong community news writing. The different sections focused on different regions were quite likable. Layout and page design are good, but be careful of too many colour screens and headlines with kerning that is too tight. There are some strong examples of photography, like the front page photo of the May 19 issue, although some photos were weaker. Devote more space to local editorial content and a little less duplication of columnists with other Niagara This Week papers.

Glenn Cook Editor, Saint City News, St. Albert, Alberta

Carol Picard Former Founder & Editor, Rocky Mountain Outlook, Canmore, Alberta

SECOND PLACE

NIAGARA THIS WEEK, NIAGARA FALLS

Niagara this Week, Niagara Falls Edition is commended on its decision to open up space for editorial content. Publishers won’t like this, but many of the papers in this category were dummied too tight to allow for any kind of presentation.

JUDGES

John Barlow Associate Publisher/ Editor, Okotoks Western Wheel Okotoks, Alberta

FIRST PLACE

Vern Falkner Editor, Saint Croix Courier, St. Steven, New Brunswick.

WHITBY THIS WEEK

Bill Phillips Managing Editor, Press George Free Press, Regional Editor, Black Press North, Prince George, British Columbia.

Whitby This Week certainly covered all aspects of Whitby – a great collection of community news. The front page photography is excellent and really helps to showcase the paper, however the image crowds out any story. Good use of white space with well laid out copy. Interesting sections including Business, Arts and Sports. Editorial page could use a redesign as it lacks punch.

THIRD PLACE

MILTON CANADIAN CHAMPION

Niagara This Week, Niagara Falls edition was one of the exceptions, with well written, well presented stories. Photography was strong, and the paper covered all aspects of the community. The editorial/Opinion page could use some stronger columns.

The Milton Canadian Champion is a good, strong community newspaper. The paper featured two very well anchored front pages. It had good photos, with a decent blend of ads, teasers, copy and content. The news hole was quite tight making it difficult to be creative with editorial and photos. A very strong arts section, with good sections throughout. The Editorial page could be laid out better.

HONOURABLE MENTION – Waterloo Chronicle. Honourable Mention goes to the Waterloo Chronicle. Strong page one photos helped this paper score well, along with a good solid sports section and colour on the classified pages.

GENERAL COMMENTS – With so many papers in this category belonging to the same company and using an almost identical template for their papers, it was tough to find an easy winner. Content is strong in all the papers and their communities are being well served. Far too many of the submissions among this year’s entries suffered from exceedingly small classifieds fonts, which rendered the sections largely unreadable. There were a lot of very low marks in the classified section – and this is why. Many newspapers continue the practice to stacking left-page ads against the spine. This isolates editorial content, and makes the newspaper appear ugly. No readership study I have seen supports diverting from the outside-ladder theme. Many low marks resulted from this practice. Stack to the outside!

Sponsored by Northern News Services

SECOND PLACE

NEWMARKET ERA-BANNER

Community broadsheets are a rare thing these days, but this enterprising paper pulls off the format with style and dignity. We liked the paper’s use of deep photographs on the front page, and its acknowledgement of the fact that the front page photo doesn’t have to be a news photo. The editorial page and the numerous letters to the editor are a great service to the community. The broadsheet space is well used.

JUDGES

FIRST PLACE

BRANTFORD, BRANT NEWS

The Brant News does so many things right – short, quick stories, great colour photos, high-bright paper, clear story/section labeling, sports agate, using photos with almost every sports story, a full-colour centrespread editorial feature… We could go on. However, the marriage of serif and sans serif font styles is a little jarring – maybe it’s the blue drop caps. Overall a great paper!

THIRD PLACE

HAMILTON MOUNTAIN NEWS

The Hamilton Mountain News had a good balance of advertising and news. The news is broken up in an organized way, with great layout. The classifieds show readership, and there are a lot, which is awesome! However, we found them a little cramped and busy to read. We enjoyed the little cool extras – recipes and constellations.

MENTION – Mississauga News

John Gleeson Editor, Mountain View Gazette, Olds, Alberta

John Kendle Managing Editor, Canstar Community News, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Murray Elliott Group Publisher, Mountain View Publishing, Olds, Alberta

Louise Brown Reporter, NWT News/North, Northwest Territories

SECOND PLACE

DURHAM COLLEGE

Durham College’s The Chronicle is a powerful, meaty package of news, features and opinion. Excellent writing. Great entertainment section, and extensive coverage of campus sports. Bold, eyecatching headlines. Too many point-and-shoot photos. Use your imagination. Better photography would dramatically improve this paper. Front page could use a re-work.

JUDGE

Mark Cripps

Mark Cripps is managing editor for the Hamilton Community News group of newspapers. During his 20 year career in newspapers, Mark has won numerous OCNA and CCNA awards for writing, layout and photography.

FIRST PLACE

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO

The University of Waterloo’s Imprint was the clear winner. Well written news and features, excellent design and clean layout. Loads of diverse and thoughtful opinion. Excellent sports pages, and a true commitment to covering arts and entertainment. A great team effort. Would like to see better use of photos, specifically up front. Front page could use some work. Overall, the Imprint is everything a good community/campus newspaper should be... and more. Well done.

THIRD PLACE

HUMBER COLLEGE

The Humber

Et Cetera has a nice clean front page and attractive layout. A lot of diverse stories, well written, tight and engaging. Pages are packed with stories about life both on and off campus. Photography could be better.

Premier Awards

JUDGE

SECOND PLACE

LINDSAY

POST

Very interesting story of the arts in prison. Visually it was laid out in an interesting way and the story was strong.

Kelly Clemmer

Kelly is the Editor-in-Chief for Star News Inc. in Wainwright, Alberta. Star News operates two award-winning weeklies, the Wainwright Star and the Wainwright Edge. Kelly has been with the Wainwright newspapers since 1999 and has been editor since 2001. Kelly is also the co-author of the book, 13 Ways to Kill Your Community.

FIRST PLACE

RICHMOND HILL/THORNHILL LIBERAL

Beautiful story and nice photo to accompany. Interesting background and very well written. I only wish the page was more visually appealing.

THIRD PLACE

TORONTO MID-TOWN TOWN CRIER

The “You Think You Can Dance” story was well written and interesting to see it from the dancer’s perspective. Visually well done as well, which helped this entry get into the top three.

GENERAL

COMMENT

– It’s obvious that the member newspapers in the OCNA are writing plenty about the arts and I think that for the most part, they are all doing a good job. Layout can be so important to transcend a good story into a great one, and a little extra work can make the story pop off the page.

JUDGE

SECOND PLACE

VAUGHAN TODAY

Runner-up goes to ‘Buddies in booze’ by Alexis Dobranowski. Fun, breezy but a real success story that’s told effortlessly and with a great headline that reflects the tone of the story perfectly.

Glenn Mitchell

Glenn is managing editor of the Vernon Morning Star and former director of the B.C. Press Council. He has been in the community newspaper industry for 25 years

FIRST PLACE

PETERBOROUGH THIS WEEK

The grim cleaners is a wonderfully written piece by Lauren Gilchrist that shows business writing truly can be anything but dull. Her first-person account of Crime & Trauma Scene Cleaners Inc. is as informative as it is interesting and colourful, with more than a touch of a sense of humour. Well done and even brave on everyone’s part.

THIRD PLACE

PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR

And third place goes to ‘Welcome to (town name)’ trademarked by Stephanie Johnson which reveals the frustration and silliness that can result from the Internet, trademarks and lawsuits when they intersect.

GENERAL COMMENT – There were also some very good research pieces on investment ripoffs and businesses gone bust and their aftermath. Some other good features as well but too many times the lack of a real dedication to business stories in the newspaper was reflected in the quality of entries. Many papers would benefit from a dedicated business section every week, which, admittedly can be difficult to do, but when you think of how important the economy is to a community, is definitely worth the effort.

Andrew Holota

JUDGE

Andrew Holota is the editor of the Abbotsford News. As well, he is the regional editorial manager for Black Press Lower Mainland, which involves various training and development initiatives for the editorial staff of the group’s 20 community newspapers. A journalist with more than 30 years of experience, Andrew has been the recipient of numerous continental, national and provincial awards during his newspaper career.

FIRST PLACE

AJAX/PICKERING NEWS ADVERTISER

Racism, whether covert or blatant as it was in this case, is an issue that affects everyone. Steve Houston writes elegantly about the issue, its impact on the community and society as a whole, and challenges readers to think and act.

SECOND PLACE

ELMIRAWOOLWICH OBSERVER

A pay hike of nearly 50 percent for councillors should be a soft lob for any editorial writer, and Steve Kannon puts this one over the fence. A wellwritten, strong stand that chastises the optics of such an initiative, and makes a further compelling argument against automatic pay increases.

THIRD PLACE

OSHAWA THIS WEEK

Again, Steve Houston uses clear reasoning and nononsense statements to take council to task over a poorly conceived administrative policy. A clean, strong editorial.

SECOND PLACE

NUNAVUT NEWS/NORTH

A solid subject with real life and death consequences, well explained, and plenty of detail. Not as smooth a read as the first place winner, but still an excellent editorial.

JUDGE

Ryan Dahlman

Ryan Dahlman is the managing editor of the Prairie Post and Prairie Post West and is based in Medicine Hat, Alberta. The two papers combined have a circulation region from the B.C./ Alberta border all the way and including Swift Current in southwest Saskatchewan. The two papers reach nearly 40,000 households. Dahlman has been managing editor of Prairie Post from 2000 to the present. Prior to that, he was a reporter at the Taber Times and Vauxhall Advance for four years and an editor for less than a year before moving on to Medicine Hat as the Prairie Post reporter for about a year. He has earned three, top-three finishes in editorial writing in the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association including a first place in 2007 and a second place in 2009. He works with a Prairie Post team which has won not only SWNA awards, but numerous Canadian Community Newspaper Association awards as well.

FIRST PLACE

WINCHESTER PRESS

Excellent editorial. Balanced in detail, looks at both sides. A smooth read and well laid out.

THIRD PLACE

CREEMORE ECHO

It rambles a little and could’ve been trimmed by a 100-200 words, especially the sanctimonious parts, but kudos for having a lot of teeth. Not easy to do when the paper is in a smaller centre.

GENERAL COMMENT – First and second place were clear cut, but there were many which could’ve finished third. Elmira, Gravenhurst, St. Marys, Parry Sound North Star, Minto, Minden and especially a well written Huntsville were all right there. While what are important are the style, detail, well-explained stance, and the impact of the editorials on their communities, many papers would be advised to look at redesigning their editorial pages.

EDUCATION WRITING

Stephen Cogan

Stephen Cogan is a proud alumnus of community newspapers in the Upper Ottawa Valley. He’s also been a writer and editor at the Kingston Whig-Standard, CBC News in Toronto and NBC News in New York. He co-manages the journalism programs at Centennial College in Toronto.

FIRST PLACE

Manitoulin Expositor

The Manitoulin Expositor: Dance your way through school – This was a crisp, engaging feature about an innovative program that shows early signs of success in promoting student retention. Clearly local high schoolers face some unique challenges; it’s encouraging to discover a unique effort being made to address that... and encouraging to see the community’s newspaper picking up on it. The writing was lively. The sources included not only the adults involved, but the students. I might have preferred the students’ input to be higher in the story, and I do think the Expositor’s traditional layout is constraining... but this was an inspiring story. Congratulations to reporter-photographer Lindsay Kelly.

THIRD PLACE

SECOND PLACE

GEorGEtown/ acton indEpEndEnt & FrEE prEss

Georgetown/Acton

Independent and Free Press: Battling bullying – This feature represented a delicate balancing act, pulled off by Eamonn Maher. There’s a tendency toward “promotional” reporting of the things that schools are doing.

But while Eamonn relays the encouraging signs around these anti-bullying workshops, this reporter-photographer also acknowledges the problems this particular community school has had with bullying. And there’s something else here that’s rarely seen in this kind of education reporting: the first quote is from a student, and students fairly share the space in the story with the adults around them. (Often reporters rely on information – including quotes – from educators... sometimes without even appearing to consult the young people involved.) My only significant quibble: a competent but lacklustre design and layout. Overall, well-done!

toronto

rivErdalE

- East York town criEr

Toronto RiverdaleEast York Town Crier: Fewer yawns, better grades – Reporter Alex Keshen’s feature distinguishes itself in a couple of ways. First, she’s following up after a program has been instituted to try to fairly assess its fallout (we reporters tend to breathlessly announce innovations... and then walk away in search of something else that’s new). Second, she’s not shy about describing the negative impact that late-start high school has had for some (contrary to the tendency to paint every school innovation in a rosy hue). Finally, Alex allows students to share the stage – in terms of quotes and other material – with teachers. The writing and layout are both clean (although I would have preferred mugshots of some of the people quoted – rather than a generic ‘clock-shot’). Generally, good job.

GEnEral coMMEnt – You might think that after reviewing the 56 entries in this category, I would be drained. On the contrary, I feel refreshed and encouraged after seeing so many high-quality examples of community newspaper reporting, photography, editing and design around an important topic like education. Congratulations to all of the newsrooms across the province committed to important, grassroots, issues-oriented journalism.

Sponsored by Ontario Journalism Educators Association

ENVIRONMENT ONTARIO Premier Award ~ WRITING

JUDGE

SECOND PLACE

PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR

The front page picture of the turtle peeking from his shell at the centre line of the road had me from the outset. The story was lively, interesting and well researched. Declining turtle populations – an environmental issue everyone can champion.

Terri Arnott

Terri Arnott, journalism professor at Humber College spent 15 years writing, editing and producing community newspapers from Exeter to Fort Erie to Lindsay. She’s been there and done that. Gathering colleagues in the community news business with each graduating year, Terri takes pride in the achievements of former students as they rise through the ranks. She continues to be most grateful to the OCNA editors and managers who give young journalists that first chance and often encourage those same writers to take the big chance that produces an award winning entry. Award winning journalism remains a team effort.

FIRST PLACE

ELMIRA-WOOLWICH OBSERVER

A lively, thorough, well written and beautifully illustrated story that touches virtually everyone. Readers certainly learned some good lessons here.

THIRD PLACE

OAKVILLE BEAVER

What happens when the town’s largest employer and largest taxpayer is also the worst polluter? It’s a big story with a host of polluting bad guys caught in the net of a new Health Protection air quality bylaw.

– A tough competition to judge. Environmental issues are frequently emotional and always complex. Some issues pit neighbour against neighbour, others make major employers the bad guys in the community. Sometimes the story of environmental danger or degradation can foster a solidarity amoung readers. Whatever the issue, one thing is clear: an environmental story has at least two sides and readers deserve – demand – to hear from more than one.

GENERAL COMMENT

JUDGE

SECOND PLACE

OSHAWA THIS WEEK

Another ambitious piece of journalism. The writer and team of visual journalists deserve credit for giving readers insight into the plight of migrant workers, not a story that can be told without some effort. The photos and layout for this piece stood above the rest. While the story presents the lives of these workers who work jobs no one else wants, it could go further to describe how it feels to be away from home for months at a stretch. But overall, well conceived and well executed.

Bryan Alary

Bryan Alary is co-editor of the awardwinning twice-weekly St. Albert Gazette, his home for the last five years. His work has been recognized by the Canadian Community Newspapers Association, Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association and the Suburban Newspapers of America. Under his watch the Gazette has repeated as best all-around newspaper in its class from provincial and national newspaper associations.

FIRST PLACE

PETERBOROUGH THIS WEEK

This piece exemplified what good community journalism is all about, telling stories about important local issues that aren’t pretty or easy to find but need to be told. This story was ambitious in scope but successfully shed light on homelessness and poverty in Peterborough. The entry was well-written, and presented in a clean package. The only criticism would be the inclusion of perhaps too many agency sources and not enough real-life experience from the street. Overall, excellent job.

THIRD PLACE

MILTON CANADIAN CHAMPION

This story makes an immediate impact with a great lead thanks to a writer who knows a golden anecdote when it presents itself. Those anecdotes fly fast and furious throughout this superbly written piece about a Second World War veteran’s wartime experiences. Despite simpler subject matter than the other finalists, the writing propels it into the top three.

GENERAL COMMENT – This was a very difficult category to judge, with many excellent submissions. The margin of victory from first to sixth was tight thanks to dedicated journalists doing what they do best. Plenty of great stories to choose from in the top 10 and beyond.

Sponsored by O’Donnell, Robertson & Sanfilippo

SECOND PLACE

TILBURY TIMES

Another well written piece. At first glance it appeared as if this was going to be just another mini-tribute to an aging professional, something we’ve all done many times but somehow this writer managed to catch the essence of the man who was the focus of the piece. A nice comfortable lead in, a good read, exactly what a feature should be. Layout was not great, but certainly good enough to land in the finalist group.

JUDGE

Norm Park

A veteran of the newspaper industry, Park began his journalistic career in southern Ontario before moving to the Caribbean and Saskatchewan where he has enjoyed a long career as editor, publisher, columnist and feature writer among other things. He is a four-time winner of the SWNA Columnist of the Year Award plus several awards for feature writing and photography. Park is currently co-editor of the Estevan Mercury

FIRST PLACE

VANKLEEK HILL REVIEW

Excellent scope-well written and well researched. Team efforts can be challenging at times but certainly successful here. The demise of the standardbred industry was explored in detail and presented in an interesting fashion with decent graphic and photo support. Tracking it from the racing itself to trainers, rescue services, and budgets showed initiative that needs to be rewarded.

THIRD PLACE

STAYNER SUN

There was a strong start to this feature, the subject material was handled professionally. The side bar information added that extra touch. Good graphics/ layout that helped attract attention in the first place.

GENERAL

COMMENT

– There were some exceptional entries in this category which indicates there are some excellent writers within this group. I truly enjoyed the disparity in subjects and some imaginative approaches taken. There wasn’t one entry that didn’t deserve to be there. That made the judging extremely difficult. I urge all entrants this year to have a run at it again next year because everyone displayed some distinct skills and personalities in their compositions and presentations.

Sponsored by O’Donnell, Robertson & Sanfilippo

SECOND PLACE

KANATA KOURIERSTANDARD

Nevil Hunt of the Kanata Kourier-Standard asks: Do you know what’s in your well? The answer is a scary one for residents all across the capital region who find no one is really sure. High impact story, well written, well researched, well presented.

JUDGE

Terri Arnott

Terri Arnott, journalism professor at Humber College spent 15 years writing, editing and producing community newspapers from Exeter to Fort Erie to Lindsay. She’s been there and done that. Gathering colleagues in the community news business with each graduating year, Terri takes pride in the achievements of former students as they rise through the ranks. She continues to be most grateful to the OCNA editors and managers who give young journalists that first chance and often encourage those same writers to take the big chance that produces an award winning entry. Award winning journalism remains a team effort.

FIRST PLACE

PETERBOROUGH THIS WEEK

Lauren Gilchrist’s story goes well beyond the usual plea for donors. The tale of the local woman who saved the life of a stranger by donating stem cells from blood was an inspiration to readers. Only a few in the community may be touched by the tragedy of waiting for a donor – virtually all citizens can follow this lead. Lauren brings the donor and recipient to life through quotes and goes to the experts for advice.

THIRD PLACE

RICHMOND HILL/ THORNHILL LIBERAL

Kim Zarzour tells the readers of Richmond Hill/Thornhill Liberal that prescription drug abuse can start right in your family medicine cabinet. That’s where most abusers get their fix in this growing public health problem. Kim goes to the users and the experts to bring a comprehensive look at what’s happening and what can be done about it.

GENERAL COMMENT – The Health and Wellness category was awash with news both good and bad for communities and their residents across Ontario. To be considered in this category the story needed to have the potential to touch the lives of many, present research readers can use to assess the situation, and bring several voices into the discussion. One source stories rarely give enough detail and meeting/event coverage usually lacked the research needed. Winners told a well rounded story that was engaging, community based, had the potential to touch on many lives and gave clear indication of what could be done by individuals or groups to make the situation better.

HONOURABLE MENTION – Scarborough Mirror writer Lisa Queen for her story on the anxiety of dialysis patients caused by a shortage of a critical drug.

Sponsored by Hamilton Community News

SECOND PLACE

This story was very nicely put together. Who wouldn’t love a story about hockey in Canada –especially a story that brought a small contingent of grass roots players to the forefront, as equals to the stars in the big leagues?

JUDGE Steve Bonspiel

Steve Bonspiel is the Editor/Publisher of The Eastern Door newspaper in Kahnawake, Quebec. Specializing in Native issues and hailing from Kahnawake’s sister community of Kanesatake, Steve is known for his balanced and fair reporting on touchy and controversial Aboriginal issues. In 2009 Steve was awarded the Lindsey Crysler award for outstanding contribution to community newspapers by the Quebec Community Newspapers Association. He and his wife Tracey Deer purchased TED in July, 2008 after working for The Nation magazine for five and a half years. Steve has also freelanced for the Montreal Gazette on numerous occasions and a number of Aboriginal newspapers and magazines.

FIRST PLACE

BROCK CITIZEN

Scott Howard’s piece on a POW’s story including actual excerpts from old army news clippings written by the veteran really gave a human face to something that is difficult at the best of times. I just wanted to keep reading more about this brave man. A great job and well deserving of first place!

THIRD PLACE

BURKS FALLS ALMAGUIN NEWS

It never ceases to interest me when I get the chance to read about the hard-working people in the newspaper business and the ever-evolving world they saw and reported on first-hand. There were a few minor mistakes but I really enjoyed this piece.

GENERAL COMMENT – I learned a lot from this competition, about Ontario history, about colourful and fun people and stories - but most of all I learned that all of these writers had one thing in common – their love for the community they serve. Although some entries were short and the overall scope of entries was difficult to judge at times – from an editorial to a feature to a news piece – this category is certainly one of the most important in the competition. Remembering our past helps to make our future brighter.

Sponsored by Fort Frances Times

SECOND PLACE

WHITBY THIS WEEK

As society’s population continues to age toward the baby boom bulge, we’re seeing trouble with communities’ ability to manage the needs of their most vulnerable citizens – the infirm elderly. Community newspapers need to spend more time keeping an eye on the quality of care in their nursing homes, and reporters Jillian Folert, Rob O’Flanagan and Mike Adler did just that when they launched a series of stories titled “Situation Critical...The crisis in long term care.” They performed stalwart work interviewing residents, practitioners and officials to get to the bottom of stagnant and bottlenecked access to beds and services. Well done.

JUDGE Joe Banks

Joe Banks has been an Ontario community newspaper reporter, editor and publisher for 25 years. He now coordinates, and is a professor for the journalism program at Algonquin College.

FIRST PLACE

AYLMER EXPRESS

This entry proved that good work does not have to extend over multiple issues or require sophisticated graphics to lay bare an issue that can do great harm to a community. The winner uncovered a major problem with abuse of the powerful painkiller OxyContin, which has been responsible for pharmacy break-ins and ruined lives in the community. “OxyContin users in Aylmer come as young as 15 and as old as in their 50s”, the police told reporters Gene Mooney and Rob Perry. What followed was a methodical, well-researched and packaged group of stories in a single issue that examines everyone affected.

THIRD PLACE

PETERBOROUGH THIS WEEK

Marginalized people are still a fact of life in 2011 Ontario, but Peterborough This Week went beyond identifying them as a statistic they named them one by one, putting a face to a community blight that has cost lives and social service budgets. Behind the stark stories of Big Joe, Jesse James, Bongo Dave and Lorne Clapper, we are taken into a world few of us venture, and come to realize the factors that have contributed to their often short and tortured lives. National research shows us that the death rate among the homeless is 8 to 10 times higher than among the same-age population of people who are well-housed, the story quotes a local health unit official. This Week reporters brought that stat to the street level and in doing so, did its community an immense favour.

GENERAL COMMENT – Each member paper that entered this category is to be congratulated for doing something that is rapidly disappearing among their small and medium daily counterparts – depth reporting. Taking time and energy away from the ever-expanding day-to-day duties must not be easy these days, especially in the smaller market and rural areas where resources are scarce. So when we see deliberate, methodical investigations into vital community stories, it’s important to salute the efforts of the reporters, editors and publishers who have the courage and stamina to ferret out facts and tell the truth. Let’s hope they continue their important work. The winners in this category shone a light into the dark corners of their communities and took a look at the scourges that affect people in a direct and indirect way.

JUDGE Jim Zeeben

As the editor of the Saanich News, Jim Zeeben serves newspaper readers on south Vancouver Island. He has worked at the Black Press headquarters in Victoria since 2000, helping manage a newsroom shared by the region’s three community newspapers.

FIRST PLACE

MISSISSAUGA NEWS

A well-researched story that hits a nerve not only with the community but also with a much broader issue facing the country and the world. Good writing by Louie Rosella with adequate space devoted to photos and related stories. The scope of coverage and range of images offers a comprehensive look at a truly compelling story.

SECOND PLACE

OTTAWA HILL TIMES

A big issue fearlessly reported. Reporter Tim Naumetz earns points for telling an important story that transcends the paper’s primary audience.

THIRD PLACE

BURLINGTON POST

This fresh story about a well-documented tragedy won out over a number of other quality entries in the competition. Christina Commisso’s report benefited from the fortunate relationship the paper established with the subject prior to their move to Haiti. A nice lede draws the reader into the story, which manages to relate a global event on a local scale.

JUDGE

Tim Jaques

Tim Jaques has been the editor of The Tribune in Campbellton, New Brunswick, since 2005

FIRST PLACE

HALIBURTON COUNTY ECHO

Engaging right from the lead. Excellent news story helped by nice presentation.

SECOND PLACE

PARRY SOUND BEACON STAR

Another one that was interesting right from the first graph.

THIRD PLACE

SIOUX LOOKOUT WAWATAY NEWS

Well-rounded story that involves all the right people.

GENERAL COMMENT – All of the stories were at the high end of competent and workmanlike. The three I picked were the ones I found the most rounded and the most engaging to me as a reader.

SECOND PLACE

OTTAWA EMBASSY

Another well-rounded story on an issue of national importance.

JUDGE

Tim Jaques

Tim Jaques has been the editor of The Tribune in Campbellton, New Brunswick, since 2005

FIRST PLACE

OTTAWA HILL TIMES

Well-rounded story on an issue of national importance.

THIRD PLACE

Great story on a local initiative.

GENERAL COMMENT – All of the entries in this category were well-written and interesting. There wasn’t a clunker amongst them. They were pleasant to read, but difficult to judge. Many were exquisitely laid out. There were several crowded near the top but these squeezed through at the post, mainly because of their depth.

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

SECOND PLACE

NEW LISKEARD TEMISKAMING SPEAKER

Well written story. Through her report, Diane Johnston gives the reader a good sense of the importance of this local event to the rural area and its economy. The writer took what could have been just a simple story or photo feature on this event, packed it with detail and information and produced a fine story. Good job with photos and layout as well.

JUDGE

Barbara Dean Simmons

Barbara Dean-Simmons has been involved in the community newspaper business in Newfoundland and Labrador for 30 years. In that time she has won several Atlantic Canada and national awards for reporting, editorial writing and photography. She is currently editor of The Packet, one of the largest community newspapers in the province – serving 99 communities in the Trinity, Bonavista and Placentia Bay region. Since 2009 she has been associate managing editor of Transcontinental’s Newfoundland and Labrador weeklies, offering assistance and direction to 14 weekly newspapers and leading provincewide editorial projects.

FIRST PLACE

NEW HAMBURG INDEPENDENT

Very informative story. Doug Colson took a complex issue and explained it well. Excellent layout with good use of photos, graphics, to help tell the story. It is obvious the reporter put a great deal of time and effort into this, from the research and writing, right to the final presentation. Well done.

THIRD PLACE

KINCARDINE INDEPENDENT

Excellent story. Lots of voices. Kristen Shane painted a very vivid picture of the town and the challenge of trying to get young people to stay. The addition of photos of the town, the speakers in the story would have earned the entry more points. But overall, a great story.

GENERAL COMMENT – The stories in this category were all fairly well done. My decision on the winners was based on what I thought a Rural story should be - a story that focuses on a local issue or event, with writing based on more than one source of information, giving the reader a sense of the importance of this subject to the local area. The top three did this well.

Sponsored by Transcontinental Media c/o Orleans Star

SECOND PLACE

NEWMARKET ERA-BANNER

Complex planning and impressive design carried the day for The Banner Era in its package of stories offering fundamental yet detailed advice and information about money management for different community sectors.

JUDGE

Joe Callahan

Joe Callahan is coordinator of the Journalism-Online, Print and Broadcast program at Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology in Belleville. With the ongoing support of the OCNA, he completed a Master’s degree in June 2010 focusing on journalism standards and accreditation. His study was published by Athabasca University and it can be found on the OCNA’s web site.

FIRST PLACE

BRIGHTON / EAST NORTHUMBERLAND INDEPENDENT

The Brighton Independent submitted its coverage of the Russell Williams story and in doing so exhibited a bold commitment to the toughest part of journalism; telling the story that both disgusts and informs. Nothing fancy with design or storytelling, just the stark tragedy of the facts as they unfolded. It is worth noting that the paper published a detailed chronology of events surrounding the story.

THIRD PLACE

MISSISSAUGA NEWS

Illustrating that there is a place for informed opinion in the news pages of a community paper, The Mississauga News presented a compelling package in its advocacy series claiming that the Peel district was being unfairly treated by social services public policy. Strong, cohesive design complete with informative graphics and photos that put a face to the story lifted this submission above others.

HONOURABLE MENTION – In the chaos of coverage that follows natural disasters, the Midland Mirror provided comprehensive coverage of the community’s response to the wrath of a tornado. Compelling photography and detailed writing that focused on the afflicted while observing the political response distinguished this entry.

GENERAL COMMENT – This year’s Best Feature/News Story Series submissions were representative of the complexity of news coverage in Ontario today and illustrated a broad range of approaches as well as a multiplicity of standards. The leading publications devoted resources and space to important stories; advocacy for fairness in public policy, money management and a community’s response to natural disasters. The winning entry showed a commitment to doing what only journalism can; tell the ugly but all-important truth and how it affects individuals in communities, and in this case, a nation.

SECOND PLACE

MANOTICK MESSENGER

The Manotick Messenger’s stories about the death of a hometown RCMP officer in the Yukon covered all the bases – from the actual cause-of-death incident, to questioning whether or not the death could have been prevented, to community reaction. This obviously wasn’t a pre-planned series, but the writing by Jeffrey Morris and Genesee Keevil and the Messenger’s commitment to give the story special treatment made it deserving of honours.

JUDGE

Gail Sjuberg

Gail Sjuberg has been the editor of the award-winning Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper in B.C. since 2003 and in the community newspaper business for more than 20 years. She is also the editor of Driftwood Publishing Ltd.’s magazine called Aqua-Gulf Islands Living and the Gulf Islander tourist guide, and has been a judge for numerous OCNA and CCNA competitions.

FIRST PLACE

VANKLEEK HILL REVIEW

Justin Bromberg’s series on solar energy in Eastern Ontario in The Review deserves first place for clear, solid presentation of complex and well-researched material. Bromberg made an important yet un-sexy subject interesting to read about.

THIRD PLACE

NEW HAMBURG INDEPENDENT

A two-part series on the state of sex education provided a thorough refresher course for readers of the New Hamburg Independent. Tim Murphy’s stories may also have prompted parents to take a more proactive role in ensuring their children are informed, safe and healthy.

SECOND PLACE

KINCARDINE INDEPENDENT

Very different type of story – but that’s what drew me to it. With better layout this would have taken top spot. Photos were strong, but a little more flair in the layout really would have brought the reader in. Still, I don’t read too many Quidditch stories, so good job on finding something interesting to write.

SPORT & RECREATION STORY

Derek Holtom

CREATION

JUDGE

Born in Saskatoon, Sask., Derek Holtom has worked at daily and weekly newspapers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with stops in Saskatoon, Dauphin, Prince Albert, Humboldt, and Swan Valley, where he currently serves as editor of the Star and Times. The Star and Times pays special attention to their sports section – it has won the CCNA award for best sports pages for their circulation class three years in a row.

FIRST PLACE

PORT PERRY STAR

Very interesting story with extremely strong photos and layout –the best layout I saw in this competition. Also fits in well with raising awareness of sport in the community. Bravo.

THIRD PLACE

ELMIRAWOOLWICH OBSERVER

Another well written piece that raises the awareness of sport in the community. It was actually tied for second after my rankings. Good layout, especially the use of white space, which I enjoy. This could easily have been second.

– Honourable mention to the Collingwood Enterprise-Bulletin for their “This hill was made for hiking” story. I thought it was the best at fulfilling the requirements for this class, to raise awareness and participation in sport/recreation. An action shot blown up would have put this over the top

HONOURABLE MENTION

GENERAL COMMENT – Overall the writing was very strong from all entries. The difference often ended up being layout, which accounts for a large portion of the overall mark, and the story not being about raising awareness and participation of sport/recreation. There were some strong sports stories but they lost points not due to bad writing, they simply did not meet the requirements of this class. Ontario communities are well served by the sports writers at their weekly papers.

Premier Award ~ WRITING

Mark Anderson

JUDGE

Mark Anderson is a journalism teacher with Algonquin College, as well as veteran reporter, columnist and magazine writer. His work has appeared in the Ottawa Citizen, Financial Post, Explore, MoneySense, Outdoor Canada, and a variety of other national publications. He lives in Ottawa.

FIRST PLACE

ELMIRA-WOOLWICH OBSERVER - Steve Galea

The sublime Steve Galea does it again with his slightly offcentred musings on everything from glass-eating to aliens. Beautifully written and funny as hell.

SECOND PLACE

ORILLIA TODAYFrank Matys

They say timing is the soul of humour, and Frank Matys has it in spades. Great tone and construction.

THIRD PLACE

MANOTICK MESSENGERJeffrey Morris

Beautiful work

again by the ubertalented Jeffrey Morris. Sweet, funny vignettes with just a hint of bite.

GENERAL COMMENT – So humour is supposed to be the most difficult form of writing to pull off, what with the all-important considerations of tone and timing, the meticulous set-up that precedes the devastating punchline. Maybe. But you wouldn’t know it from this year’s crop of talented humourists, for whom funny seems to come with effortless ease. As usual, it was difficult to select three winners from such a great field of submissions – harder yet to get the order of the three finalists right, since all three are excellent.

Premier Award ~ WRITING

Wendy Elliott

JUDGE

Wendy Elliott has been a reporter, editor and columnist for over 30 years. Writing for The Kings County Advertiser in western Nova Scotia, she has picked up regional and national awards for Best Columnist and Best Series.

SECOND PLACE

NEWMARKET ERA-BANNER –Debora Kelly

Debora Kelly looks at a variety of topics, but the reader can tell they have vitality for her because of her strong writing skills. She held my interest right to the end.

FIRST PLACE

OTTAWA HILL TIMES – Tom Korski

Tom Korski has an excellent command of his facts and thoughtful opinions. His issues should matter to most Canadians and his writing is well crafted. Bravo!

THIRD PLACE

NUNAVUT NEWS/ NORTH –Harry Maksagak

Kudos to Harry Maksagak who cannot be writing in his first language. His column on crowded housing is extremely powerful. Harry has first hand knowledge and conveys his views well.

GENERAL COMMENT – Competitors have a very tough row to how in this class because there are some excellent writers sending in their best work. It might be better to submit two strong columns rather than throw in a third weaker one. Remember judges come from other provinces, therefore very localized columns are hard to relate to. Feature stories with photos and history pieces are not columns. Columns should appear on one page and not be turned.

SECOND PLACE

DUNDAS STAR NEWS –Craig Campbell

I chose Mr. Campbell for second place for his series on secretive police budgets. This reporter refused to give up. His persistence lead to change in his community to how police budgets are reported.

JUDGE

Paula Levy

Paula Levy is a reporter and photographer with The Bridgewater Bulletin and The Progress Enterprise in Nova Scotia. She is a national and regional award winner with 20 years experience.

FIRST PLACE

OSHAWA

THIS WEEK - Jillian Follert

Ms. Follert is a leading example of how to tell all sides of one story. She could have only reported on the efforts of residents who were attempting to take their street back from drug addicts and prostitutes. But she looked beneath the surface and explored issues of poverty and lack of housing – both are factors keeping prostitutes on the streets. Well done!

THIRD PLACE

WATERDOWN FLAMBOROUGH REVIEW –Catherine O’Hara

Ms. O’Hara went beyond the rehearsed comments from official spokespeople. She gave everyone involved in the story fair opportunity to tell their side of the story. She maintained balanced throughout... the hallmark of good journalism.

Sponsored by Ontario Power Generation

SECOND PLACE

YORK

GUARDIAN

The face painting photograph demands your attention with its excellent cropping. We don’t need to see anymore to be drawn into this picture.

BEST FEATURE PHOTO

JUDGE

Terry Peters

Terry Peters is the Managing Editor of the North Shore News. The three times weekly newspaper is distributed in North and West Vancouver and recognized as an industry leader. Prior to taking his current role ten years ago, Peters was the Photography Manager there. As a staff photographer he has won over 30 provincial and national photography awards. He is a strong proponent for good photography and clean layout in newspapers.

FIRST PLACE

CLARINGTON THIS WEEK

This simple but elegant composition speaks volumes about the passing of the funeral procession and the patriotism it brought out. The hand that is visibly waving adds to the symbolism by its obvious age. Good work by the photographer and also a nod to the editor that put it on the front page.

THIRD PLACE

ETOBICOKE GUARDIAN

Great timing makes this photo a winner. The photographer got into the best vantage point and captured the moment precisely when all the elements came together.

GENERAL COMMENT – There were some very strong entries in this category, with a number of them in close contention for the top three spots. Ultimately it was strong composition and a good sense of timing that separated the winners. A note to some editors, please stop laying text on top of photographs and let the message of the image make the statement instead of trying to hammer the readers with competing descriptions.

SECOND PLACE

BURKS FALLS ALMAGUIN NEWS

Caught the fellow doing the flip at peak action. Clean photo even though there are lots of elements at work. The girl on the right looking away tends to make you think she’s either seen it all before or doesn’t dare look at the body tumbling down in front of her.

JUDGE

Fred Hatfield

Fred Hatfield, editor of the Yarmouth Vanguard is also managing editor of eight Transcontinental Media community newspapers in Nova Scotia. He has been a journalist for 45 years and his photography has appeared in most major Canadian publications and some in the United States including the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, San Francisco Chronicle and Macleans magazine.

FIRST PLACE

PARRY SOUND BEACON STAR

This is a photo that takes what would normally be a “ho-hum, another band on stage” shot, to a different level. Having the spotlight shining off the photographer’s lens in such a way that it encircles the musicians makes it an eye-catching shot of the “don’t see that every day” variety. The photo jumps off the page (original is in colour) and draws the reader into the picture the way all good shots should. Good job.

THIRD PLACE

PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR

Everything works in this photo. The emotional response on the part of the main participants has been spontaneously captured. The looks on the faces of those whose faces are visible in the audience shows a good reaction to what’s taking place. Even the youngster in the foreground with his hands on his head appears to be signifying that what’s taking place in front of him is amazing.

SECOND PLACE

BARRIE ADVANCE

So many entries in this category offered little more than photos taken of obvious things from obvious angles all saying the same thing. The photos in the Barrie entry show pieces of the bigger picture of this touching story. Again, well done but not overdone.

BEST PHOTO LAYOUT

JUDGE

Richard Dal Monte

Richard Dal Monte has been editor of The Tri-City News – an award-winning Black Press community newspaper serving the cities of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, B.C. – since 2001 and has worked as a community newspaper and freelance journalist for 25 years. He has won provincial, national and North American journalism awards for feature writing and page design.

FIRST PLACE

OSHAWA THIS WEEK

Oshawa This Week’s entry, titled “Here for the season,” was the clear winner among dozens of entries. The photos were all strong and all contributed to telling the story, and the layout was skillfully done – not overdone, as was the case with so many entries in this category. The photos are part of a compelling package that gives faces to the faceless.

THIRD PLACE

BURLINGTON POST

As a slice of life photo layout, this feature captured a particular place on a particular day and featured some particular people with a particular interest. Simple and well done.

GENERAL COMMENT – The majority of entries in this category lacked something: There were great photos dying for a good layout and clean typography; bunches of photos that could have used editing into a manageable collection; and decent layouts that could have been made so much better with an eye for the details that make the difference – from consistent spacing to appropriate sizing of photos. A journalist laying out a photo page should be aiming to tell a little story (sometimes, even, a big story); most entries in this category told the reader very little or too much.

SECOND PLACE

BELLEVILLE

EMC

This shot is all about timing too, it’s not often you see a shot of a white water rafter where you can see the face, the oar and that beautiful background.

BEST SPORTS PHOTO

JUDGE

Marilyn Berry

Marilyn Berry has been a member of the Black Press business since 2003. Starting as a sales representative in Golden B.C., she was moved to Trail to become publisher of a brand new weekly there. A medical leave from the publisher position in Invermere at The Valley Echo moved her back to the Windermere Valley in the spring of 2010. Marilyn is currently acting editor of The Valley Echo as well as interim publisher. She has a strong background in English, management and sales.

FIRST PLACE

OSHAWA THIS WEEK

Timing is everything – and this pic nailed it!

THIRD PLACE

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

What emotion! There isn’t anyone in this photo that isn’t there to win and that message is extremely well conveyed.

GENERAL COMMENT – Some great pictures of course. It’s hard not to go with the water shots – the timing is so difficult. There was a lot of emotion shown along with physical strength and strength of character.

SECOND PLACE

ELMIRAWOOLWICH OBSERVER

Only one point behind the winner. A great shot, and well planned. Scored at 67.

JUDGE

Jill Hayward

Jill Hayward is the editor of the North Thompson Star/Journal newspaper (a division of Black Press) in Barriere, British Columbia. She is the recipient of the Black Press Jerry Mac Award for outstanding community journalism and has been recognized for her photo journalism.

FIRST PLACE

ELMIRA INDEPENDENT

This photo is full of visual impact; from the fire to the farmers financial loss, to the cattle’s bewilderment at the event. A photo that speaks volumes. Scored at 68.

THIRD PLACE

LINDSAY POST

This photo is all about spot news photography. Plenty of action and emotion. Scored at 66.

SECOND PLACE

OAKVILLE BEAVER

This photograph captures a poignant, telling moment, as a child amputee carefully steps through a doorway beside an able-bodied man. Again, it powerfully conveys the message of the event. The photographer was creative in shooting the subject from behind, semi-silhouetted and framed in the door, giving the image more power.

JUDGE

Andrew Holota

Andrew Holota is the the editor of the Abbotsford News. As well, he is the regional editorial manager for Black Press Lower Mainland, which involves various training and development initiatives for the editorial staff of the group’s 20 community newspapers. A journalist with more than 30 years of experience, Andrew has been the recipient of numerous continental, national and provincial awards during his newspaper career.

FIRST PLACE

ORANGEVILLE BANNER

The combination of a bloodied, injured pig in a man’s arms, with a police officer preparing his shotgun is an image with such intense impact that some might find it disturbing. However, it tells the story in stark fashion, and that’s what news photography is about.

THIRD PLACE

MISSISSAUGA NEWS

The standard innoculation photo usually features a grimacing child. But this image caught a parent doing the facial distortions, holding a calm kid. It’s eye-catching and humorous, nudging it over other photos of similar softer news value.

GENERAL COMMENT – Many of the photos submitted in this category should have been entered as feature pictures. Fairs, concerts and other community events may make for interesting images, but they don’t have the impact and news value components to be competitive.

Anne-Marie Jackson

JUDGE

Anne-Marie began her career in 2001 as an Alberta-based print journalist before studying photojournalism at Loyalist College. She completed her photography internship with the Edmonton Journal before joining the Globe and Mail as a videographer, photographer and editor in September 2008. She is the past president of the News Photographer’s Association of Canada and has taught multimedia workshops for the Canadian University Press national conference, the Canadian Association of Journalists and The Course multimedia workshop. Anne-Marie has been published in a variety of newspapers, magazines and online publications within Canada and abroad.

FIRST PLACE

PETERBOROUGH THIS WEEK – Lance Anderson

The images you chose to include based on individual themes of community commitment, event, feature, sports and spot news were excellent. Great capture on the sports photo, very impressive. Loved the creativity and execution of the classroom photo. Spot news and community events were well captured and showed nice timing with the golf photos. Adding cherished in the frame with Santa was a nice touch and showed the photographer’s way of thinking about framing and enhanced the image in another way. Very strong images and a glowing report from the newspaper showed great commitment to the craft overall.

SECOND PLACE

OSHAWA THIS WEEK –Ron Pietroniro

All imagery was very strong, showing obvious understanding of technical ability, composition and quality. I liked the music shots, I thought they were fresh and showed photographer’s eye well. Sports image was an excellent moment. Repatriation photo was my favourite. I loved the thought and details put into the image, especially the hand in the lower part of the frame, shadows on the road and arms coming from the car. I have seem many images like this one before from this angle and vantage point but this one had a few extra elements that really made it pop. Overall imagery was very appealing to the eye, and well thought out. Comments from newspaper also showed great dedication to photography and the newspaper industry as a whole.

THIRD PLACE

AJAX/ PICKERING NEWS ADVERTISER –Ryan Pfeiffer

Strong imagery overall. You use depth of field and framing to your advantage. A strong selection but overall the images, although beautiful, were lacking impact in the content when compared to the other two finalists. It would also be great to hear more about contributions to the newspaper and involvement in your community outside of specific job requirements.

GENERAL COMMENT – There was very strong photography across the board with the top three finalists. Each had a distinct style of shooting and personal composition, creativity, and technical ability were obvious in all cases. There was only a couple points separating first and second place. The first place winner has an excellent portfolio overall and included several exceptional images that showed great timing, composition and thoughtfulness above and beyond normal duties. A glowing review from the newspaper itself as well as extra examples of personal commitment to the community and photography industry in general secured this win.

SECOND PLACE

OTTAWA HILL TIMES –Michael DeAdder

Michael DeAdder is a solid editorial cartoonist. This entry could have easily won first place but, well, one has to make choices. That said, DeAdder makes a funny and clever comment about an embarrassing moment for the Harper government. His Harper caricatures are some of the best.

JUDGE

Wyatt Tremblay

Wyatt Tremblay is the editorial cartoonist for the Yukon News in Whitehorse, Yukon. For 19 years, this award winning independent newspaper has actually paid him quite well. His work has won numerous regional and national awards, and he is a member in good standing of the Association of Canadian Editorial Cartoonists.

FIRST PLACE

OAKVILLE BEAVER – Steve Nease

Steve Nease’s entry is an excellent example of insightful editorial comment wrapped in a clever package. The humour is immediate, and the relevance to Oakville is enhanced, of course, by Nease’s formidable skill as a cartoonist. While the elements, especially the image of Frankenstein, have been well-used in the field, Nease manages to present his thoughts in his own fresh style.

THIRD PLACE

PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR

– Jonathan Mahood

Mahood’s subtle humour and lack of word balloons, blended with his simple, but skillful artistic style, set him apart enough to grant this entry third place. The clever play on words has an immediate impact on the reader. Well done.

GENERAL COMMENT – There was quite a range of skill and critical insight in this group. Several entries were cute, but lacked serious relevance and impact. The top five were very good, separated only by consistency of skill and insight. Much to the annoyance of reporters, most readers turn immediately to the editorial page to view the cartoon. The possibility of impacting your readership in ways words struggle to do should be inspiration enough to embrace the space with somber, serious waggishness. Yes, we want readers to laugh, but we also want them to squirm and maybe even get angry. The winners and top entries in this category did that consistently.

Peter McCulley

JUDGE

Peter McCully has been a newspaper publisher and broadcaster on both coasts, with some television and web background thrown in for good measure. The Gulf Islands Driftwood celebrated it’s 50th year of publication this past year, by winning Gold in General Excellence at the CCNA.

FIRST PLACE

CLARINGTON THIS WEEK

A first class Remembrance supplement that tackled a wide range of storylines from various perspectives. Sending two staff members to Europe showed a high level of commitment to the project.

SECOND PLACE

OSHAWA THIS WEEK

Oshawa This Week had their work cut out for them addressing the problem of voter apathy. The editorial was wide ranging and timely.

THIRD PLACE

PETERBOROUGH THIS WEEK

Peterborough This Week explored every angle in their series on contraband smokes and their effect on a wider range of issues than one would expect, or have guessed.

GENERAL COMMENT – I was most impressed with the wide ranging topics that the newspapers in this category chose to promote to their community. The supplements were informative, engaging and in some cases – mobilized their readership. Remember those cover letters!

Sponsored by Young Drivers of Canada

SECOND PLACE

BLYTH/ BRUSSELS CITIZEN

This product shows, despite the small markets it serves, there is still a niche for community driven guides. This product caters to every advertising budget with its wide variety of ad sizes from the special glossy cover to the smaller business card ads. With its history highlights and point form calendar, the guide keeps the reader interested and guessing what’s around the next turn.

BEST VERTICAL PRODUCT

JUDGE

Jody Epp

Jody has been working for Black Press on Vancouver Island for 10 years as a Senior account rep, director of sales and now sales manager for UsedEverywhere.com. Congratulations to all the winners for a job well done.

FIRST PLACE

ORILLIA TODAY

From the minute you feast your eyes on the decadent front cover to the textured ad on the back page, you are completely hooked by the Mariposa Folk Festival special feature. The diverse use of fonts, photographs and fluid colours compels the reader to turn the pages for more. The use of familiar faces and photographs from past and present along with the unpredictable layout make this supplement first in it’s category and a pleasure to refer to for years to come.

THIRD PLACE

GEORGINA ADVOCATE

The highlight of this feature is the pull out map which doubles as a Chamber of commerce directory. The partnership between the community, the Chamber and the newspaper inspires the editorial and compelling photos which give the reader a real insight into the communities and the activities there in.

SECOND PLACE

caledon enterPrise

One of the two most eye-catching photos in the entire selection of entries. Nobody passing by a newstand could avoid looking at this front page. The news story tells of good work done by passersby which everyone hopes would be the case in any emergency. Enterprise has a nice, clean look with good room for editorial copy/pix. More copy about the crash would have been good, but space is limited with the tabloid format.

Judge

dave Whitfield

For 20 years, Dave Whitfield has worked as editor, sports editor, reporter, photographer and freelancer in Alberta and B.C. Along with community newspapers, he has worked at an alternative entertainment weekly, a pro rodeo monthly and done contract work on a couple of magazines.

FIRST PLACE

Midland Free Press

Quality coverage of tornado from previous week. Front pic is eyecatching and shows both localized devastation and effect on a homeowner who is looking off in the future possibly. Work by two reporters shows staff initiative; speaking with emergency professionals and those affected. Judging by turns alluded to on the front, coverage was extensive of an extensive natural disaster. Front pagewise, my main criticism are the sprinkling of postage stamp-sized ads cluttering up space. If the Free Press stuck with just the bottom banner, the photo could have had better play.

THIRD PLACE

elMiraWoolWich observer

Very strong photo and layout to draw attention to a community news event. The photo works well, even though it is not from the actual time of the event. Copy and headline over photo work in drawing the reader in and has a magazine touch. Observer has a clean, uncluttered front. Copy relates to an event previous, but explores the growing nature of the spill event. Wide-ranging interest.

Sponsored by Laurentian Publishing

Ted Hill

Edward Hill has been the editor of the Goldstream News Gazette since September 2007. He’s worked as a reporter at Black Press newspapers in Duncan and Ladysmith, was a reporter at the Gazette in 2006 and earned a few awards along the way. Edward went to Langara College in Vancouver for journalism. Prior to that, he earned a science degree from the University of Victoria, and worked in offshore seismic surveying.

FIRST PLACE

Parry Sound north Star

The Parry Sound North Star front had the best all-around combination of interesting stories, strong photos and a generally clean layout. The three stories are interesting and well written. The turtle photos have striking contrast, draw the eye and nicely encapsulate the story.

SECOND PLACE

new liSkeard temiSkaming SPeaker

The New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker presented a clean front with strong dominant photo paired with elegant writing. The photo is emotive and powerful. The headline, subhead font and size are in nice proportion to the layout of the page.

THIRD PLACE

BurkS FallS almaguin newS

The gripping photo that captures the mood and headline for the lead story makes the Burks Falls Almaguin News a stand out front page. Writing is solid.

general comment – As a general comment for all the pages, the majority turn all or most of their stories. This is a choice, not a necessity. Most pages could use more white space, pull quotes or sidebars to break up heavy blocks of text.

Sponsored by Laurentian Publishing

SECOND PLACE

MilTOn canadian chaMPiOn

Imaginative layout, excellent pictures, great writing but no columns.

Judge

Jake Boudrot

Jake Boudrot was a news reporter for three years, then named editor of The Strait Area Reporter in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia in 2001. Since becoming editor, The Reporter has won 14 Atlantic Canada Community Newspaper Association awards and he has been a judge of the Ontario Community Newspapers Association awards since 2006. He is married to April Dorey Boudrot and lives in Arichat, Nova Scotia.

FIRST PLACE

Oshawa This week

Excellent content and writing, great writing and layout.

THIRD PLACE

ajax/ Pickering news adverTiser

Excellent pictures and layout but skimpy on columns.

Sponsored by Metroland Media Group Ltd., Southwestern Ontario Division

Frank Bucholtz

Judge

Frank Bucholtz is the editor of The Langley Times, a twice-weekly community newspaper in the Greater Vancouver suburb of Langley. He has been a reporter, photographer and editor for numerous community newspapers in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley areas of B.C. since 1978. He is a graduate of Simon Fraser University and the journalism program at Langara College in Vancouver. The Times received a Ma Murray Award as the best newspaper in its class in the 2010 B.C. and Yukon Community Newspapers Association awards.

FIRST PLACE

ToronTo Mid-Town Town Crier

The winner was the impressive and (at times) impudent Mid-Town Toronto Town Crier 30th anniversary edition. This was a real keeper for readers. It had very strong advertiser support and fantastic design and press work, as did all the entries from the Town Crier family of newspapers.

However, it was the excellent editorial content which made it stand out above other very strong contenders. In a very well-written and themed format, the history of the Town Crier was laid out. Interviews with the founders, a focus on past stories that attracted reader attention and profiles of the current staff gave readers a well- rounded picture of the Town Crier, and why it is such an important read in a media market that has hundreds of voices shouting for attention.

SECOND PLACE

oshawa

This week

Second went to Oshawa

This Week for its very popular Faces of the Future, a look at “Durham region youth taking a positive direction.” Its 88 pages are proof that this supplement is a must-buy for many advertisers, and the editorial content was uplifting and refreshing. Overall design was also sharp. The look back at the highlights of the 10 years Oshawa This Week has published the special section was a worthwhile addition this year. In both this case and the Town Crier entry, OCNA member newspapers are emphasizing to both readers and advertisers the value of the community newspaper industry and why it continues to have value in the digital media age.

THIRD PLACE

ToronTo norTh ToronTo Town Crier

Third place goes to another Town Crier publication, the Toronto North Town Crier’s Kids and Education supplement. This has an excellent mix of editorial content and well-designed and presented advertising. As noted above, it is this type of special section which really draws readers in.

honoUraBle MenTion – Honourable mentions go to three tourist guides - those published by the Barrie Advance, Hamilton Mountain News and Burlington Post. All three contained a wealth of information about the community, and were well-packaged and laid out – in addition to being chock full of ads.

General CoMMenT – This was an impressive category, with many very good entries and only a few which I would not rate as highly. Almost all had excellent advertising support, which after all is one of the key reasons for special sections. A few which clearly were “outside the box”- type sections struggled for support, but even these had validity, as they highlighted important community events or more obscure aspects of community life that deserved a spotlight. In the area of editorial content, there was a much wider range of strengths and weaknesses. One section, which had an impressive lineup of ads, did not have any local material at all for content, with all stories picked up from a canned copy service. Another had no written copy at all - just photos. However, many had very strong editorial content, and I believe this made them far more valuable to readers. Strong readership equals strong sales for our advertisers, and that means everybody wins. That’s the fundamental strength of our industry.

Judge

SECOND PLACE

nunavut

nEws/north

Opportunities North: A Report on Northern Industry. A huge project about a huge part of our country that obviously requires huge resources to publish every year. Editorial content, in words, photos and graphics, is top quality and well supported by effective advertising messages. A feast of facts about the North. Stimulating and mind-filling. I felt very full after reading through it.

Joyce Carlson

Joyce has been involved in the newspaper business since 1970 when she started writing hockey reports for her local newspaper. She was then hired as women’s editor, moving on to sports editor, reporter, editor, assistant publisher and publisher. In 1989, she left her hometown to become publisher of The Gulf Islands Driftwood on Salt Spring Island. She left in 1995 to launch The Powell River Peak which has had a website since 1998. Joyce has been on the BC and Yukon Community Newspapers Association board since 1986 and served as president in 1989-90. She was on the Canadian Community Newspapers Association board of directors for nine years, serving as chair of the marketing committee for four of those years. She was association president in 1994-95. After more than 40 years, Joyce continues to enjoy the business and the role newspapers play in their communities with all the accompanying rewards and challenges.

FIRST PLACE

Manitoulin Expositor

The Wiky Drum: This 50th anniversary celebratory issue stood out among the entries as the most original and creative. Emotional stories provide historical perspective about our First Nations neighbours and their struggle to maintain their cultural roots. Public display of those roots was prohibited by a paternalistic society. Courage to retain, and regain, their cultural identity is still required today from individuals and their intergenerational family members whose stories are powerfully told in this special section. Truly inspiring.

THIRD PLACE

st. Marys Journal argus

St. Marys Homecoming 2010. Community pride on display for another decade. Complete with schedule, quizzes (Which prime minister swam in the quarry? I guessed Trudeau and read later that it was him), historical stories, letters from former and current residents, made the 40-pages an interesting read, even for someone who has never been to St. Marys. Great involvement by businesses and organizations with advertising dollars.

honouraBlE MEntion – Saluting the Physicians by the Fort Francis Times. I gave this section an honourable mention because I have not seen the idea before. I liked giving a salute to doctors who work for the well being of a community, working to keep people healthy and to care for them when they are ill.

Maurissa grano

Judge

Maurissa graduated from Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology in 1992 with a Diploma in Graphic Design. In 1994, she launched Creative Odyssey Marketing and Design Inc. in Sudbury, with her partner Giovanni, and she has been the creative force behind the firm’s success. In 1999, Creative Odyssey Marketing and Design was awarded a Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce SOHO Business Excellence Award. Maurissa oversees a very creative and forward-thinking advertising and design firm and continues to upgrade her skills through various seminars and courses. In 2006, she was recognized with a Greater Sudbury and Manitoulin 40 Under 40 Award, which celebrates young men and women in the community as leaders.

SECOND PLACE

creemore echo

Nice use of illustration and visually appealing. Ties in well with the client, a country appeal.

FIRST PLACE

Scugog Standard

Great ad series! Nice to see the repeated use of the circular pattern that ties in with the logo. The imagery used was very bright and appropriate to the client. Ad layout is clean and uncluttered, consistent throughout.

THIRD PLACE

trenton, the trentonian

Creative use of space and font to clearly depict a large scale event in a small ad. Clean design!

Tina Hennigar

In her tenth year at Lighthouse Media Group, Tina Hennigar has received the Newspaper Promotion award nationally in their class for the past three years concurrent. She gives all the credit to a team of outstanding graphic designers and leadership that encourages out-of-the-box thinking. “Sure, we can promote our papers in our papers, but I think we can and should do better than that.” Tina is always looking towards videos, community events and contests to promote all their products, not just to readers and advertisers, but also reaching out to those who aren’t yet readers or advertisers.

FIRST PLACE

Creemore eCho

We sometimes undervalue our own newspapers. A voluntary subscription sale produced by The Creemore Echo challenged readers, who get their paper for free, to subscribe voluntary for $45 per year. Who would pay for it when you don’t have to, one might ask? But have we ever asked our readers to subscribe to a free circulation newspaper? They did, and when seeing 52 pages of newspapers in the ad, it shows the reader the value of the paper they’ve been enjoying for free. Brilliant.

SECOND PLACE

New hamburg iNdepeNdeNT

Second place goes to the New Hamburg Independent for their bold use of testimonials.

THIRD PLACE

oshawa

This week

Third place goes to Oshawa This Week for an ad engaging readers to have their say in the many forms of social media. It would be hard not to notice it.

Premier Award ~ ADVERTISING

Chanie Pritchard

Chanie is the founder and CEO of Sage Media, an award-winning brand consultancy and corporate graphic design studio located in the Nation’s Capital. With global clientele ranging from small startups to Fortune 100 companies, Sage Media provides a comprehensive range of strategic visual communication services.

FIRST PLACE

Ottawa Hill times

The Exchange Pub | Ottawa Hill Times

Immediately the most attractive ad presented in this group. Well balanced, great use of structure, appropriate colours and imagery, with only a few points for improvement (alignment/ratios; background interference). Very nice overall impression.

SECOND PLACE

new Hamburg independent

The Whining Tree | New Hamburg Independent

Well organized, effective ad layout. Easy to read, colours and images nicely balanced with content. Message well presented, cohesive treatment throughout.

THIRD PLACE

manOtick messenger Rediscover

Manotick | Manotick Messenger

While there is a lot of room for improvement, this entry achieves a feel that appeals to its rural audience. The layout is orderly and attractive, with acreative farmer’s market theme.

Sponsored by Metro Creative Graphics

SECOND PLACE

ottaWa hill times

Very clever idea, attention-getting layout and unique use of text and colour.

Judge

darlene giles

A B.Comm. graduate with a major in marketing (and a minor in English Literature), Darlene began her career selling newspaper advertising space. A St. John’s native, she quickly moved to one of Atlantic Canada’s leading advertising agencies, originally in account management. In a short time she found her true niche was writing, switching her role to Copy Director. A move to Toronto saw her in the position of Creative Director with SPAR Wings & Ink, a marketing and merchandising firm. Darlene has held this position for twelve years. Her experience encompasses direct marketing, print, corporate campaigns, online campaigns, web, TV, radio and video for Canadian and international clients.

FIRST PLACE

Kingston/Frontenac this WeeK

Good concept, great use of illustration and typestyle, very professional layout

THIRD PLACE

neWmarKet eraBanner

Clean, well thought out, strong message, nice use of colour.

Collin gribbons

Collin Gribbons has worked in print publishing for more than 30 years, dating back to his involvement in the editorial board of his student newspaper at the University of Guelph. He has variously worked as a reporter, editor, creative director and public relations consultant in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto. He is the founder of Union Communications, where he has been a partner for more than 25 years. The agency’s work has appeared hundreds of times in OCNA-member newspapers.

FIRST PLACE

Manotick Messenger

Our winner, “Manotick’s heart, Manotick’s soul,” is a bold statement of commitment to the community served by the Manotick Messenger.

SECOND PLACE

Parry sound nortH star

The Parry Sound North Star (“Under construction”) uses an innovative, colourful layout to combine news and advertising content related to downtown construction.

THIRD PLACE

Vankleek Hill reView

“Put Money in Your Pocket with Energy Efficiency” by the Vankleek Hill Review, features an imaginative, original logo which ties together the three separate pages over which this feature ran.

general coMMent – Congratulations to the winners, and to all entrants in this category, for your excellent work. All of the entrants in this category are congratulated for showing a high degree of professionalism and design standards.

USE OF PROCESS COLOUR Premier Award ~ Colour

Judge

SECOND PLACE

st. marys Journal argus

The photography made me want to visit this inn!

Wayne Aubert

Wayne Aubert is Program Coordinator and Professor with the Advertising program at Mohawk College. He is also the former Program Director for the Certified Print Production Practioner Program (CPPP) at the Institute of Communication Agencies, and has been a print producer for over 20 years at advertising agencies in Toronto.

FIRST PLACE

Elmira-WoolWich obsErvEr

This Pumpkin ad just jumped off the page!

THIRD PLACE

bEllEvillE Emc

Great house ad...bet you got a lot of carrier applications!

gEnEral commEnt – In our digital world, it’s still nice to “hold” your community paper and see what is going on in your neighbourhood. The use of colour to make your ad jump off the page is really important!

SECOND PLACE

vaughaN today

Vaughan Today has a clean and modern layout combined with great use of Social Media tools such as twitter. Their overall design and engagement on twitter made them a clear front runner in this category.

Judge Sean Toohey

Sean is an Online Product Development Director with extensive knowledge of web development and online marketing. He has over 14 years experience creating web-based applications and building user focused online communities. Sean has previously been responsible for the development of over 130 Community Newspaper websites and has produced some of the most visited websites of Canada.

FIRST PLACE

Sioux Lookout WaWatay NeWS

Wawatay News was a clear winner in this category, with its use of multi-lingual and multimedia content. The Reclaiming Life feature stood-out with its great layout and twitter integration. Overall I feel this site really captures the spirit of its community.

THIRD PLACE

eLmira-WooLWich obServer

ObserverXtra had one of the best layouts in this category and was also a close contender for top spot. Their Social Media tools were prominent, but automation (via feeds) VS more human engagement put them in 3rd place here.

geNeraL commeNt – This was a very competitive category with both large news networks and small local papers vying for top spot. The winners this year stood out with their use social media, open-source platforms such a Drupal and Wordpress, and opting for clean modern designs in favour of traditional cookie-cutter news portals. Ultimately it was community content and spirit that made Wawatay News the clear winner.

Premier Award ~ ONLINE

LOCAL ONLINE INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Judge

SECOND PLACE

Thunder BAy sourCe

Tbnewswatch.com did a wonderful job meshing their revenue and readership goals as they enhanced their site over this last year. With readership growth up over 36% and revenue growth over 51%, the local community seems to be in agreement.

Cheryl Wirch-Ryckman

Cheryl Wirch-Ryckman has over 20 years experience in publishing. Cheryl began agencyside before moving across the country to work with Black Press, first on the print side and then moving to the Digital division as the company evolved their online strategy, moving from Director of Marketing to Director of Operations. Working closely with over 80 online publications, Cheryl was provided with a unique opportunity to grow the online audience from virtually the ground up and experienced first-hand the exciting changes and challenges of online publishing. Cheryl is currently independently consulting to provide local businesses with online advice.

FIRST PLACE

ToronTo CiTy CenTre Mirror/Annex GuArdiAn

This site delivers on technology’s promise of making life easier. InsideTorontoVotes.ca combined a simple CMS with a complicated concept and an astute use of online tools to create a clean, clear site that was very user-friendly.

THIRD PLACE

oshAwA This week

Bruce’s work highlights how powerful online tools can be in the right hands to inform and add relevance to local news stories. Projects such as his ongoing homicide map and fallen soldiers map are clever turns on the typical single story google map.

Premier Award ~ ONLINE

SURFER’S SELECTION

Each OCNA Member Newspaper was given two chances to vote for the Surfers Selection Award. They were instructed to choose a first and second choice for the Best Website. Each First choice pick was given two points and each second choice pick was given one point.

FIRST PLACE

SECOND PLACE

THIRD PLACE

College & University Awards

SECOND PLACE

RYERSON UNIVERSITY –Jelena Djurkic

Sometimes quality of writing isn’t enough on its own. A feature subject should be interesting and Jelena Djurkic chose wisely. Again, this is an education which speaks to the always fascinating ability of individuals to use their unique talent to the betterment of complete strangers.

JUDGE

Paul Rellinger

Paul Rellinger is one of just two present day-one employees of Peterborough This Week, having moved to the city in August 1989. Since then, he has served as Managing Editor and, more recently, as Special Projects Editor and lead entertainment writer as well as writer of a weekly column, People ‘n’ Places, for which he has received multiple Ontario newspaper writing excellence awards. Paul and his wife Mary have three grown children – Paul Jr., Peter and Laura, and two grandsons, Landon and Hudson – and make their home in southeast Peterborough.

FIRST PLACE

LOYALIST COLLEGE – Meagan Leonard

Kudos to Meagan Leonard for tackling a subject not broached often, if at all, and giving a lifestyle that is frightening to many a human face which, of course, breeds understanding and tolerance. Well done!

THIRD PLACE

LOYALIST COLLEGE –Steve Pettibone

For hockey fans, the only thing better than playing hockey is reading about the pure joy and camaraderie of the game as experienced by those who play it socially. I saw myself in these guys – and that is the best reader experience one can have. Better still, non-hockey fans would still find something in Steve Pettibone’s story in the form of passion for time spent with friends.

GENERAL COMMENT – The quality of writing and attention to detail in each of these entries was very good, making for a thoroughly enjoyable judging experience but also an extremely difficult final decision. That’s not to mention the accompanying art, be it photographs, graphics or art. I found most of the layouts highly visually appealing, which really grabs the eye and keeps it there. Generally, where points were lost was due to a lack of secondary sources and, in some cases, predictability as where the story was going. Two of the winning entries – by Meagan Leonard and Jelena Djurkic – educated by tackling subjects not nearly broached enough while Steve Pettibone’s subject – men’s pick-up hockey – simply entertained. If we’re not educating readers, we should be entertaining them. If you can do both, bonus.

Jeff Morris

JUDGE

Jeffrey Morris is the publisher and managing editor of the Manotick Messenger and Barrhaven Independent. The Messenger and Independent have won numerous OCNA awards in the past five years, while Morris was the OCNA Humour Columnist of the Year in 2005, and the OCNA Columnist of the Year and OCNA Stephen Shaw Reporter of the Year Award winner in 2008. In 2009, he was runnerup for the Stephen Shaw Reporter of the Year Award, and he won a CCNA Award for Best Local Editorial.

FIRST PLACE

RYERSON UNIVERSITY – Jelena Djurkic

Jelena Djurkic “Making the walk of shame more comfortable” Jelena Djurkic offered a well-written, thorough and relevant piece about a Ryerson grad who made an impact on CBC’s Dragon’s Den. The use of her photos and sidebar enhanced the presentation of an already outstanding piece.

SECOND PLACE

LOYALIST COLLEGE –

Melissa Tait

Melissa Tait “Community struggles to cope”

Melissa Tait writes a strong piece in the aftermath of the death of Jessica Lloyd and the arrest of Col. Russell Williams.

THIRD PLACE

CENTENNIAL COLLEGE –

Aileen Donnelly

Aileen Donnelly “Life sentence for E.Y. man who shot wife”

Aileen Donnelly wrote a thorough, wellwritten and detailed account of a man receiving a life sentence after finally admitting he intentionally shot his estranged wife.

GENERAL COMMENT – There were some very well-written pieces that did not crack the top three either because of the subject matter and its relevance to their readership, or because of a lack of depth in sources. Most of the stories were engaging, though some of the better stories offered more of a hook to readers in the first two or three paragraphs.

Sponsored by Ontario Journalism Educators Association

JUDGE Graham Paine

A photojournalist for 30 years, most of those as a staff photographer with Metroland Media Group, over his career he has also freelanced for daily newspapers and magazines. Graham is a four-time OCNA Photographer of the Year recipient.

FIRST PLACE

LOYALIST COLLEGE – Adam Gagnon

The first place entry by Adam Gagnon captured the emotion of family members overcome with grief at a repatriation ceremony. The lack of color didn’t detract from the entry, however tighter cropping and better play would have added to an already stellar image.

SECOND PLACE

ALGONQUIN COLLEGE –Lucas Timmons

The second place image by Lucas Timmons, really showcased the agony of defeat, good play and color added to the entry.

THIRD PLACE

LOYALIST COLLEGE –Bryanna Bradley

The third place entry by Bryanna Bradley, captured the emotional farewell at a funeral,tighter cropping would be the only comment, on another great image.

GENERAL COMMENT – There were many good entries in this class, however the top five entries really stood out, with the top three finalists separated by only three points. Making the judging even more difficult was the fact that news, feature and sports were all combined in the same category.

JUDGE

Cheryl Wirch-Ryckman

Cheryl Wirch-Ryckman has over 20 years experience in publishing. Cheryl began agency-side before moving across the country to work with Black Press, first on the print side and then moving to the Digital division as the company evolved their online strategy, moving from Director of Marketing to Director of Operations. Working closely with over 80 online publications, Cheryl was provided with a unique opportunity to grow the online audience from virtually the ground up and experienced first-hand the exciting changes and challenges of online publishing. Cheryl is currently independently consulting to provide local businesses with online advice.

FIRST PLACE

LOYALIST COLLEGE

QNetNews.ca is an impressive step forward for Loyalist College. Live interactive coverage of events, video, and photogalleries are just some of the enhancements on this exciting new site. Along with the new norms of RSS and sharing, QNetNews.ca has also integrated comments, calendar and streeters to engage local readers. Along with driving readers, the site is driving revenue with a prominent online banner on the site.

SECOND PLACE

RYERSON UNIVERSITY

The Ryersonian was a pleasure to peruse. The articles and headlines were engaging and the clean design was inviting. There was a harmonious flow between the articles and the technolsogy so that neither intruded on the other but instead strengthened the overall result.

THIRD PLACE

ALGONQUIN COLLEGE

The Algonquin Times couples well-written articles with a clean design. The home page uses some interesting online tools to drive readership while maintaining a quick load. Social media integration is brought to the forefront with their twitter feed on their home page while the footer contains useful links to the college and student associations.

2010 Molson Coors Community Award in Memory of

Mary Knowles

Faye Craig has been employed at the Fergus Wellington Advertiser for the past eight years, but her active involvement in Arthur and the surrounding communities has spanned decades.

In particular, she is dedicated to promoting and preserving the cultural and architectural heritage of Arthur. For the past 35 years, Faye has been an active member of the Arthur and Area Horticultural Society as a youth leader and director; she has served as a director for the Arthur Agricultural Society for 26 years; and she has been a member and secretary for the Arthur Historical Society for the past four years.

Faye, we are told, consistently looks for the good in others and is always the first to offer encouragement and support. Perhaps that is what drew her to also volunteer with Victim Services Wellington, an organization that works with the Wellington County Police to assist survivors and victims of accidents or crime. Her compassion, kindness and strength have helped numerous people deal with circumstances of trauma and tragedy.

Faye’s compassion for others continues as an active member of the St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Arthur, where she is part of Helping Hands, which delivers food and good cheer to those who need it.

Faye keeps busy each year as a captain of a 30 person canvassing team for the Heart and Stroke Foundation in February, and is often called upon to use her experience with the aforementioned organizations to either chair, coordinate or help judge competitions for the Wellington County Milk Committee’s Dairy Princess Program, Arthur and Area Homecoming and the Fair Ambassador program Queen of the Furrow event or public speaking contests at local schools and Legions.

In addition to her regular duties as an advertising sales person at the Wellington Advertiser, Faye has a newspaper route which she has kept since she began working for the paper.

Faye’s love of horticulture and gardening, as evident by her work for St. Andrew’s Church, has spurred her into maintaining the flowerbeds at the newspaper’s office, often ensuring that the reception desk has fresh flowers on display.

Faye’s longstanding commitment to the preservation of Arthur’s history and heritage, and her capacity to give to those in need are a true asset to her community. OCNA is honoured to award her with the 2010 Molson Coors Community Award in Memory of Mary Knowles.

Congratulations Faye!

Faye Craig, Sales Representative, Fergus Wellington Advertiser

Class 5 (Circ 12,500 - 22,499)

2010 SPONSOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

would like to thank all our award sponsors:

Fort Frances Times

Hamilton Community News

Hydro One Networks Inc.

Laurentian Publishing

Metro Creative Graphics

Metroland Media Group Ltd. Southwestern Ontario Division

Northern News Services

O’Donnell, Robertson & Sanfilippo

Ontario Journalism Educators Association

Ontario Power Generation

Young Drivers of Canada