Leader News Staff
news@ptleader.com

The Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader won 26 awards in the 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.

The newspaper earned honors in advertising, special sections, news coverage, features, page design, and photography.

The awards were announced during the annual meeting of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, held Oct. 7 through Oct. 9 in Bellingham.

The competition was judged by the South Dakota Press Association, and included more than 1,800 entries from 48 newspapers across Washington.

“I am so very proud of our staff, both current and past employees,” said Donna Etchey, publisher of The Leader.

“One of the judge’s comments stated that, ‘The contest was top-notch from top to bottom. Every entry was fun to read and served its community well. There were a half dozen more entries that should have won awards. Those who did were truly the best of the best,’” Etchey said. “This statement truly captures the passion that goes into every page of the paper every week from the advertising designed for local businesses to the stories and photos that capture the communities we cover here in Jefferson County.”

“I also want to say thank you to our readers for believing in community journalism and what we do. We appreciate your support,” she added.

The Leader won 10 first-place awards, seven second-place awards, and nine third-place awards.

In the advertising division, the newspaper won first-, second-, and third-place awards, with Meg Visger and Rainier Powers earning accolades.

Advertising awards included the categories of single advertiser and best newspaper house advertisement.

The Leader also placed first place for tourism special sections, for the work done  by Visger, Etchey, and the newspaper staff on The Leader’s Getaway Guide 2022.

The newspaper’s Lifestyle publication won first and third place, respectively, for the Summer 2021 and Winter 2022 editions. Visger, Josh Hamilton, Etchey, and Powers  were named on the award.

The special section Perspectives, featuring the art of local students, was also awarded a first-place prize.

Also winning a second-place award was The Leader’s special section for the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival.

The Leader newsroom brought home 19 awards.

Brian Kelly won a first-place award for government reporting, as well as first place for best sports news story.

Former Leader reporter Laura Jean Schneider won first-place awards in breaking news, COVID-19 coverage, and best animal feature story.

Schneider also earned second place for Feature Writer of the Year.

Former reporter Nick Twietmeyer won first place for best personality profile, and former reporter Audrey Rogers won third place for best long feature story.

Kelly was also recognized in crime/courts coverage, winning second place and third place in the category.

He also won a second place in front page design, and a third place in feature page design.

Reporter James Sloan won three awards; a second place for best short personality profile, a third place in best short feature story, and third place in the quirky category called “News of the Weird.”

For his second-place award in personality profiles, Sloan was recognized for his story about Don Marseille, 92, Port Townsend’s unstoppable scrubber of graffiti.

A contest judge said of Sloan’s article: “I love this story and this writer’s style. Fun profile piece on a guy in the community who clearly loves where he lives but probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves for the work he does to keep his community looking nice. Keep up the good work.”

Schneider also won a second-place award best animal feature story, and won third place for best arts feature story and best short news story.

Schneider also won second place in the category of general news photography.

Judges called the newspaper’s feature writing “well-writtten” and “captivating,” while other news stories were praised for context and quality.

The contest was based on newspaper content that was published between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. Awards for tourism special sections were based on editions published through May 31.