December 24, 2024
MAINE PRESS ASSOCIATION FREEDOM

Press group names Sun Journal best newspaper

BAR HARBOR – The Sun Journal of Lewiston has won daily and weekend Newspapers of the Year awards in the Maine Press Association’s annual contest. The Ellsworth American and the Houlton Pioneer Times were named the state’s best weekly papers.

The winners were announced Saturday night during the MPA’s annual fall conference at The Atlantic Oakes Resort in Bar Harbor.

The Bangor Daily News won the award for best Web site and former BDN reporter Toni Lynn Robbins was awarded the Bob Drake Young Writer’s Award. Sun Journal photographer Russ Dillingham was named Journalist of the Year.

In the daily division, the Sun Journal was followed by the Bangor Daily News in second place and the Journal Tribune of Biddeford in third.

The Sun Journal’s Sunday edition was named Newspaper of the Year for the fourth year in a row. Second place in the general excellence competition for weekend papers went to the Morning Sentinel of Waterville and third place went to the Kennebec Journal of Augusta.

In addition to the awards, the MPA inducted four key figures in the state’s newspaper industry into the Maine Press Association Hall of Fame on Friday night.

Entering the Hall of Fame were the late Robert B. Beith, former executive editor and publisher for the Guy Gannett newspapers; Jim Brunelle, a well-known political reporter, columnist and commentator; the late Campbell B. Niven, publisher of The Times Record in Brunswick for 30 years; and the late Polly Ouimet, a longtime news editor for the Lewiston Sun Journal.

The Hall of Fame, established in 1998, now has 45 members. It is located at the University of Maine.

List of MPA contest winners

News Photo

Weekly 1: 1. Jonathan Thomas, Castine Patriot; 2. Tina Shute, Waldo County Citizen; 3. Tina Shute, Waldo County Citizen.

Weekly 2: 1. EJ Hersom, Sanford News; 2. Holly S. Anderson, Knox County Times; 3. EJ Hersom, Sanford News.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Doug Jones, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram; 2. Gabor Degre, Bangor Daily News; 3. Troy R. Bennett, The Times Record.

Spot News Photo

Weekly 1: 1. Tina Shute, Waldo County Citizen; 2. Rich Beauchesne, The York Weekly; 3. Earl Brechlin, Mount Desert Islander.

Weekly 2: 1. Holly S. Anderson, Knox County Times; 2. Kathy McCarty, The Star-Herald; 3. Tina Nadeau, St. John Valley Times.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Russ Dillingham, Sun Journal; 2. John Clarke Russ, Bangor Daily News; 3. Russ Dillingham, Sun Journal.

Scenic Photo

Weekly 1: 1. Colin Powell, Castine Patriot; 2. Earl Brechlin, Mount Desert Islander; 3. Steve Fuller, The Republican Journal.

Weekly 2: 1. Amy Lea, The Courier-Gazette; 2. Leanne M. Robicheau, Knox County Times; 3. Kim Lincoln, The Courier-Gazette.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Gregory Rec, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram; 2. Andy Molloy, Kennebec Journal; 3. Derek Davis, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram.

People Photo

Weekly 1: 1. Tina Shute, Waldo County Citizen; 2. Don Clark, The York Weekly; 3. Earl Brechlin, Mount Desert Islander.

Weekly 2: 1. EJ Hersom, Sanford News; 2. Daniel O’Connell, Knox County Times; 3. Elizabeth Deprey, St. John Valley Times.

Daily-Weekend: 1. John Ewing, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram; 2. Amber Waterman, Sun Journal; 3. John Ewing, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram.

Illustration

Weekly 1: 1. Christine Dunkle, Capital Weekly; 2. Christine Dunkle, The Waldo Independent.

Weekly 2: 1. Catherine McKinney, The Ellsworth American; 2. Steve Arango, The Ellsworth American.

Daily-Weekend 1. Eric Zelz, Bangor Daily News; 2. Michael Fisher, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram; 3. Ben Sturtevant and Sharon Wood, Kennebec Journal.

Picture Story

Weekly 1: 1. Earl Brechlin, Mount Desert Islander; 2. Hailee Morin, Aroostook Republican; 3. Staff, Boothbay Register.

Weekly 2: 1. EJ Hersom, Sanford News; 2. Nick Gosling, The Ellsworth American; 3. Greg Fish, The Bar Harbor Times.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Shawn Patrick Ouellette, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram; 2. Gregory Rec, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram; 3. Amber Waterman, Sun Journal.

Feature Photo

Weekly 1: 1. Tina Shute, Waldo County Citizen; 2. Becky Buyers-Basso, Mount Desert Islander; 3. Joe Orchulli II, Boothbay Register.

Weekly 2: 1. Daniel O’Connell, Knox County Times; 2. Tom Walsh, The Ellsworth American; 3. Jennifer Osborn, The Ellsworth American.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Russ Dillingham, Sun Journal; 2. John Swinconeck, Journal Tribune; 3. Jeff Pouland, Morning Sentinel.

Sports Photo

Weekly 1: 1. Don Clark, The York Weekly; 2. Earl Brechlin, Mount Desert Islander; 3. Joseph Cyr, The Camden Herald.

Weekly 2: 1. Daniel O’Connell, Knox County Times; 2. Ken Waltz, Knox County Times; 3. Daniel O’Connell, Knox County Times.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Jeff Pouland, Morning Sentinel; 2. Kate Collins, Bangor Daily News; 3. Daryn Slover, Sun Journal.

Graphic

Weekly: 1. Catherine McKinney, The Ellsworth American; 2. Christine Dunkle, The Republican Journal.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Eric Zelz, Bangor Daily News; 2. Eric Zelz, Bangor Daily News; 3. Eric Zelz, Bangor Daily News.

Specialty Page Design

Weekly: 1. Victoria Willette, Sanford News; 2. Christine Dunkle and Dagney C. Ernest, The Courier-Gazette; 3. Christine Dunkle, The Waldo Independent.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Corey LaFlamme and Pete Gorski, Sun Journal; 2. Ursula Albert and Jose Leiva, Sun Journal; 3. Justin Pelletier, Kevin Mills, Russ Dillingham and Nick Masuda, Sun Journal.

Front Page Design

Weekly: 1. Staff, The Ellsworth American; 2. Staff, The Courier-Gazette; 3. Staff, Waldo County Citizen.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Nick Masuda and Pete Gorski, Sun Journal; 2. Becky Bowden and Eric Zelz, Bangor Daily News; 3. Brian Robitaille and Eric Zelz, Bangor Daily News.

Local Ad Black and White

Weekly 1: 1. Susan Brown and John Cross, The Camden Herald; 2. Michelle Christian and Bill White, The Waldo Independent; 3. Craig Bagley and Bill White, The Republican Journal.

Weekly 2: 1. Staff, The Ellsworth American; 2. Cathy McDonald and Leah Watkins, The Bar Harbor Times; 3. Cathy McDonald, The Bar Harbor Times.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Paulina Walker, Kennebec Journal; 2. Denise Morin, Sun Journal; 3. Michelle Pushard, Sun Journal.

Local Ad in Color

Weekly 1: 1. Staff, Mount Desert Islander; 2. Pam Schultz and Eben Larner, Waldo County Citizen; 3. Staff, Mount Desert Islander.

Weekly 2: 1. Staff, The Ellsworth American; 2. Iveta Holden and Dawn Burns, The Courier-Gazette; 3. Staff, Knox County Times.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Denise Morin, Sun Journal; 2. Sam Wood and Jack Gifford, Bangor Daily News; 3. Aaron Skilling and Amy Hayden, Bangor Daily News.

Campaign or Series

Weekly 1: 1. Terri Mahoney, Kathleen Falato and Mike Scarborough, Waldo County Citizen.

Weekly 2: 1. Sara Levesque and Jennifer Pelletier, St. John Valley Times; 2. Staff, Knox County Times; 3. Ann Parker and Leah Watkins, The Bar Harbor Times.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Advertising Staff, Sun Journal; 2. Renee Paradis and Ron Robbins, Morning Sentinel; 3. Michelle Cote, Journal Tribune.

Advertising Layout

Weekly: 1. Heidi Lombardo, The Bar Harbor Times; 2. Staff, Joe Dunkle, The Republican Journal; 3. Staff, The Original Irregular.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Creative and Sales Staffs, Kennebec Journal; 2. Advertising Staff, Sun Journal; 3. Barbara Mower, Bangor Daily News.

Supplement-Special Section

Weekly 1: 1. Staff, Houlton Pioneer Times; 2. Staff, The Republican Journal; 3. Staff, Mount Desert Islander.

Weekly 2: 1. Staff, The Ellsworth American; 2. Kelly Woods and Christine Dunkle, The Courier-Gazette; 3. Kelly Woods and Christine Dunkle, The Courier-Gazette.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Cindy Stevens, Denise Vear, Sales and Creative Staffs, Morning Sentinel; 2. Sandy Comeau, Dave Fitzpatrick and Shelley Sund, Bangor Daily News; 3. Advertising Staff, Sun Journal.

Best Supplement Cover

Weekly 1: 1. Trina Johnson and Terri Mahoney, Waldo County Citizen; 2. Tina Sullivan-Thorpe, Mount Desert Islander; 3. Susan Brown and John Cross, The Camden Herald.

Weekly 2: 1. Staff, Knox County Times; 2. Staff, The Ellsworth American; 3. Christine Dunkle, The Bar Harbor Times.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Shelley Sund, Bangor Daily News; 2. Staff, The Times Record; 3. Michael French, Morning Sentinel.

Best NIE Idea

Weekly: 1. Staff, Aroostook Republican; 2. Staff, The Piscataquis Observer; 3. Staff, Houlton Pioneer Times.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Staff, Bangor Daily News; 2. Roger Quandt, Sun Journal; 3. Staff, The Times Record.

In-Paper Circulation Promo

Weekly: 1. Staff, Mount Desert Islander; 2. Staff, The Ellsworth American; 3. Staff, Waldo County Citizen.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Jesse Richter, Sun Journal; 2. Elizabeth Hansen and Shelley Sund, Bangor Daily News; 3. Josh Alves and Pat Horne, Bangor Daily News.

Self-Promotion

Weekly: 1. Staff, Houlton Pioneer Times; 2. Staff, St. John Valley Times; 3. Staff, The Ellsworth American.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Shelley Sund, Bangor Daily News; 2. Josh Alves and Paul Herrick, Bangor Daily News; 3. Denise Vear and Cindy Stevens, Kennebec Journal.

Best New Idea

Weekly: 1. Staff, Mount Desert Islander; 2. Staff, The Ellsworth American.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Shelley Sund, Jack Gifford, Debra Bell and Jeff Orcutt, Bangor Daily News; 2. Staff, The Times Record; 3. Cindy Stevens, Kennebec Journal.

Sponsorship Page

Weekly: 1. Staff, Mount Desert Islander; 2. Staff, Mount Desert Islander; 3. Carol Parker, Sara Levesque and Jennifer Pelletier, St. John Valley Times.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Bridgit Cayer and Amy Hayden, Bangor Daily News; 2. Jarred Bailey and Joan Hallee, Morning Sentinel; 3. Advertising Staff, Sun Journal.

General Excellence

Weekly 1: 1. Houlton Pioneer Times; 2. The York Weekly; 3. Mount Desert Islander.

Weekly 2: 1. The Ellsworth American; 2. The Star-Herald.

Daily: 1. Sun Journal; 2. Bangor Daily News; 3. Journal Tribune.

Weekend: 1. Sun Journal; 2. Morning Sentinel; 3. Kennebec Journal.

Editorial Page

Weekly 1: 1. Staff, Waldo County Citizen; 2. Staff, The Waldo Independent; 3. Staff, The Republican Journal.

Weekly 2: 1. Staff, The Courier-Gazette; 2. Staff, The Ellsworth American.

Daily: 1. Susan Young and Tom Groening, Bangor Daily News; 2. Staff, Portland Press Herald; 3. Staff, Journal Tribune.

Weekend: 1. Anthony Ronzio, Cam Churchill and Pete Gorski, Sun Journal; 2. Susan Young and Tom Groening, Bangor Daily News; 3. Naomi Schalit, Morning Sentinel.

Sports Section

Weekly 1: 1. Staff, The York Weekly; 2. Dwight Collins and Rick O’Malley, The Republican Journal; 3. Gloria Austin, Houlton Pioneer Times.

Weekly 2: 1. Wayne E. Rivet, The Bridgton News; 2. Joseph Cyr and Mark Haskell, The Courier-Gazette.

Daily: 1. Staff, Sun Journal; 2. Staff, Portland Press Herald; 3. Staff, Journal Tribune.

Weekend: 1. Staff, Sun Journal; 2. Staff, Morning Sentinel.

Web Site

Weekly 1: 1. Staff, waldo.villagesoup.com; 2. Staff, www.mdislander.com.

Weekly 2: 1. Staff, knox.villagesoup.com; 2. Staff, www.ellsworthamerican.com; 3. Kelly Woods and Staff, www.MaineCoastNow.com.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Jeff Tuttle, Sara McCormick, Tim Archambault and Shelley Sund, Bangor Daily News; 2. Staff, www.pressherald.com; 3. Staff, KennebecJournal.com and MorningSentinel.com.

News Story

Weekly 1: 1. Herb Perry, The York Weekly; 2. Becky Buyers-Basso, Mount Desert Islander; 3. Jane Andrews, The Waldo Independent.

Weekly 2: 1. Jennifer Osborn, The Ellsworth American; 2. Kris Ferrazza, The Courier-Gazette; 3. Tom Walsh, The Ellsworth American.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Eric Russell, Bangor Daily News; 2. Amy Calder, Morning Sentinel; 3. Christopher Williams and Lindsay Tice, Sun Journal.

Spot News Story

Weekly 1: 1. Mark Good, Mount Desert Islander; 2. Jennifer Feals, The York Weekly; 3. Daniel Dunkle, The Republican Journal.

Weekly 2: 1. Stephen Rappaport, The Ellsworth American; 2. Stephen Betts, The Courier-Gazette; 3. Stephen Betts, The Courier-Gazette.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Mark LaFlamme, Amber Waterman and Terry Karkos, Sun Journal; 2. Sharon Kiley Mack, Bangor Daily News; 3. Staff, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram.

Investigative Report

Weekly: 1. Tom Walsh, The Ellsworth American; 2. Jennifer Feals, The York Weekly; 3. Tom Walsh, The Ellsworth American.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Kevin Wack, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram; 2. Nok-Noi Hauger, Bangor Daily News; 3. Kathryn Skelton, Sun Journal.

Analysis

Weekly: 1. Tom Walsh, The Ellsworth American; 2. Tom Walsh, The Ellsworth American; 3. John Hale, Capital Weekly.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Kathryn Skelton, Pete Gorski and Amber Waterman, Sun Journal; 2. Susan Cover, Kennebec Journal; 3. Eric Russell, Bangor Daily News.

Continuing Story

Weekly 1: 1. Steve Fuller, The Republican Journal; 2. Fran Emmons, The Piscataquis Observer; 3. John Hale, Capital Weekly.

Weekly 2: 1. Tom Walsh, The Ellsworth American; 2. Stephen Betts, The Courier-Gazette; 3. Tom Walsh, The Ellsworth American.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Rex Rhoades, Sun Journal; 2. Staff, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram; 3. Staff, Kennebec Journal.

Arts-Lifestyle Feature

Weekly 1: 1. Ethan Andrews, Waldo County Citizen; 2. Judy Yeaton, Capital Weekly; 3. Daniel Dunkle, The Waldo Independent.

Weekly 2: 1. Kelly Woods, The Courier-Gazette; 2. Kelly Woods, The Courier-Gazette; 3. Holly S. Anderson, Knox County Times.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Sharon Kiley Mack, Bangor Daily News; 2. Deirdre Fleming, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram; 3. Eric Russell, Bangor Daily News.

Feature Story

Weekly 1: 1. Ethan Andrews, Waldo County Citizen; 2. David Hart, The Original Irregular; 3. Daniel Dunkle, The Waldo Independent.

Weekly 2: 1. Stephen Fay, The Ellsworth American; 2. Sarah Reynolds, The Courier-Gazette; 3. Ellen W. Todd, Sanford News.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Josie Huang and Gregory Rec, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram; 2. Rachel Ganong, The Times Record; 3. Trevor Maxwell, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram.

Local Column

Weekly 1: 1. Jay Davis, Waldo County Citizen; 2. L.E. Hughes, The Original Irregular; 3. Mark Nickerson, Waldo County Citizen.

Weekly 2: 1. S. Peter Lewis, The Bridgton News; 2. Mike Corrigan, The Bridgton News; 3. Stephen Betts, The Courier-Gazette.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Bill Nemitz, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram; 2. Staff, Sun Journal; 3. J.P. Devine, Kennebec Journal.

Critic’s Award

Weekly 1: 1. Ethan Andrews, Waldo County Citizen; 2. David Grima, The Camden Herald; 3. Liz Gartley, Houlton Pioneer Times.

Weekly 2: 1. Stephen Fay, The Ellsworth American; 2. Stephen Fay, The Ellsworth American.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News; 2. J.P. Devine, Kennebec Journal; 3. Elizabeth Lardie, The Times Record.

News-Sports Headline

Weekly: 1. Steve Fuller, The Waldo Independent; 2. Ellen W. Todd and Shawn P. Sullivan, Sanford News; 3. Staff, The York Weekly.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Judy Long, Bangor Daily News; 2. Chris Brockman, Journal Tribune; 3. Keith Hagel, Sun Journal.

Feature Headline

Weekly: 1. Beth Staples and Jay Davis, Waldo County Citizen; 2. Daniel Dunkle, The Waldo Independent; 3. Stephen Fay, The Ellsworth American.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Becky Bowden, Bangor Daily News; 2. Kelly Brennick, Journal Tribune; 3. Staff, Sun Journal.

Special Section

Weekly 1: 1. Staff, Houlton Pioneer Times; 2. Staff, The Waldo Independent; 3. Staff, Mount Desert Islander.

Weekly 2: 1. Staff, The Ellsworth American; 2. Ken Waltz, Ron Hawkes and Daniel O’Connell, Knox County Times; 3. Kelly Woods and Christine Dunkle, The Courier-Gazette.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Staff, Sun Journal; 2. Staff, Bangor Daily News; 3. Staff, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram.

Editorial

Weekly 1: 1. David Grima, The Camden Herald; 2. Andrew Kekacs, Waldo County Citizen; 3. Jay Davis, Waldo County Citizen.

Weekly 2: 1. Dick Broom, The Bar Harbor Times; 2. Stephen Betts, The Courier-Gazette; 3. Leanne M. Robicheau, Knox County Times.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Anthony Ronzio, Sun Journal; 2. Robert Long, The Times Record; 3. Naomi Schalit, Kennebec Journal.

Opinion Column

Weekly 1: 1. Marion Tucker-Honeycutt, The Republican Journal; 2. Peter Cook, The Republican Journal.

Weekly 2: 1. Shawn P. Sullivan, Sanford News; 2. Tom McLaughlin, The Bridgton News; 3. Mike Corrigan, The Bridgton News.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Dana Wilde, Bangor Daily News; 2. Paul Mills, Sun Journal; 3. George Smith, Kennebec Journal.

Editorial Cartoon

Weekly 1: 1. Darryl Smith, Waldo County Citizen; 2. Douglas Coffin, The Waldo Independent; 3. Joe Marshall, Mount Desert Islander.

Weekly 2: 1. Darryl Smith, Knox County Times; 2. John Riley, The Courier-Gazette.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Steve Meyers, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram; 2. George Danby, Bangor Daily News; 3. Dan Dallaire, Journal Tribune.

Sports Story

Weekly 1: 1. Dwight Collins, The Waldo Independent; 2. Ron Hawkes, Waldo County Citizen.

Weekly 2: 1. Ken Waltz, Knox County Times; 2. Mark Haskell, The Courier-Gazette; 3. Wayne E. Rivet, The Bridgton News.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Kalle Oakes, Sun Journal; 2. Matt Difilippo, Kennebec Journal; 3. Justin Pelletier and Bob McPhee, Sun Journal.

Sports Feature

Weekly 1: 1. Thomas Hanson, Capital Weekly; 2. Ron Hawkes, Waldo County Citizen.

Weekly 2: 1. Ken Waltz, Knox County Times; 2. Mark Haskell, The Courier-Gazette; 3. Ken Waltz, Knox County Times.

Daily-Weekend 1. Jenn Menendez, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram; 2. Randy Whitehouse, Sun Journal; 3. Kalle Oakes and Russ Dillingham, Sun Journal.

Sports Column

Weekly 1: 1. Rick O’Malley, The Republican Journal.

Weekly 2: 1. Ken Waltz, Knox County Times.

Daily-Weekend: 1. Steve Solloway, Portland Press Herald-Maine Sunday Telegram; 2. Kalle Oakes, Sun Journal; 3. John Holyoke, Bangor Daily News.


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