The Capital Press was the top prize-winner in the annual Oregon Newspaper Association contest — for the fifth straight year.
It was also the eighth sweepstakes award for the newspaper in the past 10 years.
The award was based on a point system: 3 points per first-place award, 2 points per second-place award, and 1 point per third-place award in the reporting, writing, graphics and design categories.
Competing in the associate member category, the Capital Press scored 14 points, beating the Weekly Source from Bend, Ore., by two points.
The Capital Press took third place in the target audience publication general excellence category. According to ONPA, judging was “based on level of interest, relevance, creativity, and commitment to target audience.”
Reporter George Plaven won first place in the best news writing category for his story last May on the issues facing the Klamath Basin.
Matthew Weaver won first place for best feature writing for his story about Roy Chung, the U.S. Wheat Associates marketing manager in Southeast Asia.
The newspaper also won second place for an editorial Managing Editor Carl Sampson wrote about former Environmental Protection Agency Director Scott Pruitt.
The newspaper’s designer, Randy Wrighthouse, took second place for overall design.
Graphic artist Alan Kenaga took first- and third-place honors in the graphics category. He also provides graphics for Capital Press sister papers and won first and second place for graphics in the Blue Mountain Eagle, the newspaper in John Day, Ore.
The awards were handed out at the recent ONPA annual convention. The contest was judged by members of the Kentucky Press Association.
“Editorial excellence is one of the reasons our readers love the Capital Press,” said Joe Beach, editor and publisher. “While their opinion counts the most, it’s nice to be recognized in some tangible way by our peers in Oregon and our colleagues from the Blue Grass State.”