Press Association names HPT Maine’s best small weekly

BAR HARBOR, Maine — Houlton’s own Pioneer Times staff earned state accolades Oct. 11, receiving the General Excellence Award for a paper in Maine with a circulation under 5,000.
    The Maine Press Association’s 2008 Better Newspaper Contest included a period of time from April 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008. Staff at the Pioneer during that time included Gloria Austin, Sarah Bethiaume, Jennifer Ruth, Dave Bates, Dave Russell and Wanda MacIlroy.
Staff members, including editor Mark Putnam, and their guests attended the evening awards ceremony at The Atlantic Oakes Resort in Bar Harbor. Putnam, managing editor for Northeast Publishing Company, which, in addition to the Pioneer Times, produces weeklies in Presque Isle, Caribou and Dover-Foxcroft., was clearly pleased with his employees, stating, “The Pioneer staff motivates themselves to improve on what they’ve done in previous years; they are not satisfied to be mediocre.”
In addition to constant self-improvement, Putnam cites a team effort. “The sales and editorial sides of the newspaper take interest in the whole product; they push one another to be the best,” noted Putnam. “For example when the advertising department has completed their part of the process, they will offer to proofread the layouts for the news department before the pages are sent to press.” It is the team spirit that creates a superior product each week.
Reporter Gloria Austin appreciated receiving the coveted award. “This is huge honor among our peers.” The Pioneer competed against 18 other papers with similar circulation.
Austin also noted the credentials of the General Excellence category judge, Polly McMullin, editor of The Daily News in Huntingdon, Penn. “I was impressed with the overall look of the paper — a bit surprised to see the red letters! I enjoyed the fact that despite a small staff and the northern location, the paper provides good, solid news coverage with multiple sections. Consistency is the key to this paper. It runs from one section to another,” McMullin said.
While the award is a major recognition for the staff’s hard work and dedication, employees humbly acknowledge the importance of community.
Putnam stated, “We hope the town of Houlton and all of our surrounding communities can share in our recognition … after all, it is the story of this region that the Pioneer Times has the privilege of sharing with the rest of the world.”
Austin also took a moment to recognize the work of the entire community, from contributors to student interns. Austin specifically recognized the work of Liz Gartley and Ben Austin. “If it weren’t for the enthusiasm and willingness of young people to step in,” pondered Austin, “it would have been difficult to get the paper out at various times throughout the year.”
Gartley also received a third place Critic’s Award for her column, “This Isn’t Real Life.”
In addition to these awards, the Pioneer earned other awards. The Bicentennial Edition received first-place awards for the supplement itself as well as the advertising for it. A final first-place award was issued for self-promotion entitled, “Houlton Pioneer Times’ 150th.”
Third-place awards went to the Pioneer staff for the Best Newspapers in Education Idea and to Austin for the paper’s sports section.
Former HPT editor and longtime Northeast Publishing executive editor Jack Faulkner was quick to offer his congratulations, saying “I think it is most deserving because they have always maintained the reputation of being a true community newspaper.”
General Excellence winners in larger divisions included the daily Lewiston Sun Journal and the weekly Ellsworth American.
No paper could be as proud of its community as the staff at the Pioneer. Austin reflected on the new motivation granted by the award. She elaborated by saying, “It matters to us that people look at our community as being friendly and open, that we represent our community well. This shows that we are competitive in our industry and what we do does matter.”