NORTHPORT — The Aroostook Republican & News staff won five awards, including two first-place selections, in the 2010 Maine Press Association Better Newspaper Contest. The presentations were made Oct. 17 during the state newspaper organization’s annual meeting and workshop at the Point Lookout conference center.
In the Supplement/Special Sections category, the Aroostook Republican staff took top honors for its County Crossroads magazine devoted to the 2010 Junior Olympics at the Nordic Heritage Center. Melissa Grima, editor of the Coos County Democrat in Lancaster, N.H., who judged the division, said “the publication is cohesive, includes strong advertising support and useful print copy in addition to fun extras like the autograph page. Topical tie-ins with local slant are well-used and layout is clean and easy to navigate.”
The Republican also earned third place in the Special Section division for its two-part Sesquicentennial Edition. Grima called the sections detailing Caribou’s year-long 150th anniversary “excellent historical retrospective. Good use of photos and community ads to tie into history.”
Reporter Natalie Bazinet won a first-place award in the People Photo category for her entry entitled “Break time.” Peter Ackerman, chief photographer for the Asbury Park Press of Neptune, N.J., who judged the category, said “We like the quiet moment that the two kids spend in the obstacle tunnel.”
Taking second place in the Newspapers in Education category for large weeklies, was the Republican’s annual NIE section featuring student writing and photography, as well as student-created advertising. Meg Heckman, editor of The Concord Monitor, who judged the category, commented on the special edition. “Wonderful use of student-submitted content. The kids’ question-and-answers were particularly fun,” she said.
The Republican’s County Crossroads supplement also won second place in the Self Promotion category.
The Ellsworth American was selected as the best weekly newspaper in Maine while the Bangor Daily News won the best daily newspaper title.
