2025 BNC Award Winners Announced
The winners for the 2025 Better Newspaper Contest have been announced! The full winner's list and General Excellence awards will be revealed at the WNPA Convention in Wenatchee in October.
July 23, 2025
The 2025 Better Newspaper Contest, an annual Washington Newspaper Publishers Association contest, is the annual opportunity for newspapers, editors, journalists, graphic designer and others to show their stuff! The winners will learn their place in the contest at the convention, to be held Oct. 3 & 4 in the Wenatchee Convention Center.
Anacortes American | |
Social Issue Story General Feature Story- Short Lifestyle Feature Story Sports Feature Story General News Photo Portrait Photo | Caleb Sprous, James Matson, Cameron Martinez |
Bainbridge Island Review | |
General Excellence Ad of the Year Single Advertiser- Smaller than 1/2 Page Branding Ad Use of Small Space Ad Campaign Ads Featuring Animals 1/2 Page or Larger Ad News Story- Short Health or Medical Story Environmental Story Business News Story Business Feature Story Tourism Special Sections Lifestyle/Culture Sections | Tyler Shuey, Steven Powell, Molly Hethwerwick, Joshua Kornfeld, Luke Caputo, Britney Fletcher-West, Mike De Felice, Brenda Jorgens, Priscilla Wakefield, Patrick Wright, John Jaeger, Katrina Daroff, Han Bui, Patrick Wright, Brenda Jorgens, Priscilla Wakefield, Harmony Liebert, Han Bui, Kathy Cruz |
Camas-Washougal Post-Record | |
General Excellence | Kelly Moyer, Doug Flanagan, Shelly Atwell |
Cascadia Daily News | |
General Excellence News Writer of the Year News Story- Long Health or Medical Story Social Issue Story Election Story Sports Feature Story Personality Profile- Long Comprehensive Coverage- Multiple Writers Investigative Reporting Front Page Design Community Service Sports Action Photo Sports Feature Photo | CDN Staff, Julia Tellman, Hailey Hoffman, Isaac Stone, Simonelli, Charlotte Alden, Nick Zeller-Singh, Andy Bronson, Eric Trent, Cocoa Laney, Finn Wendt, Jaya Flanary, Annie Todd |
Cheney Free Press | |
Photographer of the Year Branding Ad Use of Small Space Ad Campaign Arts & Entertainment Ad Humorous Ad Online Photo Essay Government Story Sports Page Design Editorial General News Photo Feature Photo Portrait Photo Pictorial Photo Sports Action Photo Sports Feature Photo Lifestyle/Culture Sections Event/Festival Sections Special Section Covers | Michelle Van Diest, John Myers, Roger Harnack, Allan Gainer, Teresa Simpson, Matthew Strissel, Lela MacArthur, Justin Slayton, |
Chinook Observer | |
General Excellence Sports Writer of the Year Environmental Story Business News Story Sports News Story Arts Feature or Story Sports Feature Story Sports Personality Profile Personality Profile- Long General Interest Columns Pictorial Photo Sports Action Photo Tourism Special Sections | Matt Winters, Brandon Cline, Luke Whittaker, Riley Yuan, Jeff Clemens, Cate Gable, Patrick Webb, Riley Yuan, John Bruijn, Hattie Sheldon, Jane Webb |
Columbia Basin Herald | |
News Story- Short Social Issue Story Election Story General Feature Story- Long General Feature Story- Short History Feature Story Arts Feature or Story Sports Feature Story Sports Personality Profile Community Guide Sections | Cheryl Schweizer Nance Beston Joel Martin Caleb Perez Columbia Basin Herald team |
Daily Journal of Commerce | |
Comprehensive Coverage- Multiple Writers Lifestyle/Culture Sections | Shawna Gamache, Jeffrey Miller, Michael Leonard, Scott Crawford, Jennifer Duhamel, Lynne Riesselman, Geoff Anderson |
Daily Record | |
News Story- Long Breaking News Story Government Story Crime & Court Story | Brian Kelly |
East County Journal | |
News Headline General Feature Story- Long Feature Page Design Front Page Design Photo Essay Feature Photo Sports Action Photo | Ric Hallock, Cathy Kane, Chris Johnson |
Edmonds Beacon | |
Social Issue Story Photo Essay Feature Photo | Natalie F. Khan, Christine Mitchell, Brian Soergel, Amanda Thornton-DeWitt |
Federal Way Mirror | |
News of the Weird Lifestyle Feature Story History Feature Story Sports Feature Story | Joshua Solorzano Keelin Everly-Lang Ben Ray |
Islands’ Sounder | |
News Story- Long Environmental Story Business News Story Government Story General Feature Story- Short Lifestyle Feature Story Business Feature Story Personality Profile- Short | Kristina Stucki Colleen Smith Summers |
Journal of the San Juan Islands | |
News Story- Long Environmental Story Government Story Arts Feature or Story Personality Profile- Long Personality Profile- Short | Kristina Stucki Heather Spaulding Diane Craig |
Kent Reporter | |
Lifestyle Feature Story | Steve Hunter |
Key Peninsula News | |
Feature Writer of the Year Sports Writer of the Year Environmental Story Education Story Government Story News of the Weird General Feature Story- Short Business Feature Story Animal Feature Story Sports Personality Profile Personality Profile- Long Sports Page Design Editorial General Interest Columns Topical Columns Photo Essay Sports Action Photo | Chris Rurik, Sara Thompson, Tina McKail, Eddie Macsalka, Ted Olinger, Lisa Bryan, Heather Meier, Dan Whitmarsh, Carolyn Wiley, Kamryn Minch |
Lynden Tribune | |
Ad of the Year Branding Ad Smaller than 1/2 Page Ad News Story- Long News Story- Short Social Issue Story Election Story News Headline Business Feature Story Sports Feature Story Personality Profile- Short Front Page Design Feature Writer of the Year Sports Writer of the Year Special Section Covers | Melanie Fair, Bill Helm, Racquel Muncy, Joe Kramer |
Lynnwood Times | |
News Writer of the Year News Story- Short Government Story Election Story Sports Personality Profile Investigative Reporting | Kienan Briscoe, Mario Lotmore, Merrick Parnell |
Mercer Island Reporter | |
Breaking News Story Education Story | Andy Nystrom |
Methow Valley News | |
Sports Writer of the Year Photographer of the Year Ad of the Year Single Advertiser- Smaller than 1/2 Page Branding Ad Ads Featuring Animals Romantic Ad Arts & Entertainment Ad Full Page Ad Use of Clip Art Newspaper House Ad News Story- Long Breaking News Story Environmental Story Business News Story Education Story Government Story Crime & Court Story Social Issue Story Election Story Sports News Story News of the Weird News Headline General Feature Story- Long General Feature Story- Short Lifestyle Feature Story Business Feature Story Animal Feature Story History Feature Story Sports Personality Profile Personality Profile- Long Personality Profile- Short Comprehensive Coverage- Single Writer Sports Page Design Feature Page Design Editorial Pages General Interest Columns Topical Columns Breaking News Photo Pictorial Photo Sports Action Photo Sports Feature Photo Tourism Special Sections Community Guide Sections | MyKenzie Bennett, Marcy Stamper, Ann McCreary, Ralph Schwartz, Joanna Bastian, Don Nelson, Ashley Lodato, Michelle Schmidtke, Rick Lewis, Solveig Torvik, Steve Mitchell, Staff |
Mukilteo Beacon | |
Health or Medical Story Education Story Social Issue Story Sports Personality Profile Feature Photo | David Pan |
North Kitsap Herald | |
Health or Medical Story Sports News Story News of the Weird Comprehensive Coverage- Single Writer | Mark Storer, Elisha Meyer, Tyler Shuey |
Northern Kittitas County Tribune | |
Use of Small Space Ad Campaign Ads Featuring Animals Full Page Ad Smaller than 1/2 Page Ad Newspaper House Ad Humorous Ad Health or Medical Story General Interest Columns Topical Columns Community Service Topical- In-Paper Sections Event/Festival Sections | Jen Smith, Frank Schuchman, Carl Nelson, Terry Hamberg, Jana Stoner, JK Myers, Casey Clark, NKC Tribune Staff |
Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune | |
Arts & Entertainment Ad Breaking News Photo | Angela Larson, Gary De Von |
Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle | |
General Excellence Arts & Entertainment Ad Breaking News Photo Single Advertiser- Smaller than 1/2 Page Use of Small Space Classified Page Design Full Page Ad Use of Clip Art Newspaper House Ad Pictorial Photo Sports Action Photo Event/Festival Sections | Julie Bock, Chronicle Staff, Al Camp, Joseph Claypoole |
Port Orchard Independent | |
News Story- Long Health or Medical Story Education Story Crime & Court Story General Feature Story- Long Lifestyle Feature Story Animal Feature Story Sports Feature Story | Elisha Meyer, Britney Fletcher-West, Steven Powell, Mike De Felice |
Port Townsend Leader | |
Photographer of the Year Single Advertiser- 1/2 Page or Larger Branding Ad Ad Campaign Ads Featuring Animals Full Page Ad 1/2 Page or Larger Ad Smaller than 1/2 Page Ad Newspaper House Ad Humorous Ad Education Story Government Story Art Reviews News of the Weird Lifestyle Feature Story Arts Feature or Story Personality Profile- Long Editorial Editorial Cartoon Topical Columns Photo Essay Breaking News Photo General News Photo Feature Photo Topical- In-Paper Sections Tourism Special Sections Lifestyle/Culture Sections | Cyrus Gubelman, Nick Johnson, Kachele Yelaca, Meg Visger, Lloyd Mullen, Kirk Boxleitner, Mallory Kruml, James Robinson, Rob Pudim, Scott Doggett, Leader Staff, Meredith Jordan, Alex Frick, Sean Marleau, Jesse Watson, Susan Englen |
Renton Reporter | |
Feature Writer of the Year Business News Story Crime & Court Story | Bailey Jo Josie, Joshua Solorzano, Benjamin Leung |
Sequim Gazette | |
General Excellence Sports Writer of the Year Election Story News of the Weird Business Feature Story Feature Writer of the Year Tourism Special Sections Lifestyle/Culture Sections | Emily Matthiessen, Matthew Nash, Michael Dashiell, Kathy Cruz |
Shelton-Mason County Journal | |
Feature Writer of the Year Ad Campaign Smaller than 1/2 Page Ad Use of Clip Art Youth-Oriented Content News Story- Long Crime & Court Story General Feature Story- Short General Interest Columns Breaking News Photo Feature Photo Portrait Photo | Theresa Murray Biggs, Kim Fowler, John Lester, Dave Pierek, June Williams, Gordon Weeks, Kirk Ericson, Shawna Whelan |
Skagit Valley Herald | |
Breaking News Story Environmental Story Education Story Social Issue Story News of the Weird General Feature Story- Short History Feature Story Arts Feature or Story Sports Personality Profile Personality Profile- Short | Cameron Martinez, Emma Fletcher-Frazer, Caleb Sprous, Ava Ronning |
Snoqualmie Valley Record | |
Multiple-Advertiser Ad Health or Medical Story Business News Story Crime & Court Story Business Feature Story | William Shaw, Grace Gorenflo |
South Whidbey Record | |
Photographer of the Year Health or Medical Story Social Issue Story News of the Weird Lifestyle Feature Story Business Feature Story Animal Feature Story History Feature Story Personality Profile- Short Feature Writer of the Year Photo Essay Feature Photo Portrait Photo | Kira Erickson, David Welton |
Stanwood Camano News | |
Feature Writer of the Year News Writer of the Year News Story- Long News Story- Short Government Story General Feature Story- Short Animal Feature Story History Feature Story Arts Feature or Story Personality Profile- Long Personality Profile- Short Personality Profile- Short Investigative Reporting General News Photo | Isabella Loy, Cameron Martinez |
Sunnyside Sun | |
General Excellence Business News Story Government Story General Feature Story- Short Comprehensive Coverage- Multiple Writers Breaking News Photo Sports Action Photo | Sunnyside Sun Staff, Kennia Perez, Ileana Martinez, Job Wise |
The Chronicle | |
General Excellence Sports Writer of the Year News Story- Short Education Story Crime & Court Story Social Issue Story Sports News Story News of the Weird Lifestyle Feature Story Business Feature Story Animal Feature Story History Feature Story Arts Feature or Story Sports Personality Profile Investigative Reporting Front Page Design Community Service Photo Essay Breaking News Photo General News Photo Feature Photo Pictorial Photo Sports Action Photo Sports Feature Photo | Coralee Taylor, Chad Taylor, Eric Schwartz, Emily Fitzgerald , Dylan Wilhelm, Kody Christen, Owen Sexton, Mitchell Roland, Ridley Hudson, Kody Christen |
The Courier-Herald | |
Environmental Story News of the Weird News Headline Sports Personality Profile Feature Writer of the Year News Writer of the Year | Ray Miller-Still |
The Daily Herald | |
News Story- Short Breaking News Story General Feature Story- Long General Feature Story- Short Editorial Editorial Pages Community Service | Aspen Anderson, Will Geschke, Eliza Aronson, Randy Diamond, Jenna Peterson, Jon Bauer, Jacqueray Smith, Staff |
The Newport Miner | |
General Excellence Single Advertiser- Smaller than 1/2 Page News Story- Short Breaking News Story Health or Medical Story Environmental Story Business News Story Government Story News Headline General Feature Story- Long Lifestyle Feature Story Business Feature Story Animal Feature Story History Feature Story Sports Personality Profile Personality Profile- Long Editorial Sports Action Photo Event/Festival Sections Special Section Covers | Michelle Nedved, Staff, Sophia Aldous, Don Gronning, Gabrielle Feliciano, Greg Hitchcock, Jason Duchow |
The Northern Light | |
Ad of the Year Single Advertiser- Smaller than 1/2 Page Single Advertiser- 1/2 Page or Larger Branding Ad Use of Small Space Multiple-Advertiser Ad Ad Campaign Ads Featuring Animals Romantic Ad Arts & Entertainment Ad Full Page Ad 1/2 Page or Larger Ad Smaller than 1/2 Page Ad Use of Clip Art Newspaper House Ad Humorous Ad Youth-Oriented Content News Story- Long News Story- Short News Headline General Feature Story- Long Lifestyle Feature Story Arts Feature or Story Comprehensive Coverage- Single Writer Community Service Photo Essay General News Photo Sports Action Photo Lifestyle/Culture Sections Special Section Covers | Ruth Lauman, Louise Mugar, Doug DeVisser, Gary Lee, Molly Ernst, Joshua Kornfeld, Pat Grubb, Grace McCarthy, Liam Delaney, Nolan Baker, Jasmine Long, Aly McGee, Radka Chapin |
The Reflector | |
General Excellence Ad of the Year Full Page Ad News Story- Long General Feature Story- Long Animal Feature Story Personality Profile- Long Comprehensive Coverage- Single Writer Feature Page Design Portrait Photo Pictorial Photo Sports Feature Photo Photographer of the Year | Eric Schwartz, David Boehmke, Cade Barker, Norman Helgason, Billy Armstrong |
The Wenatchee World | |
General Excellence Breaking News Story Health or Medical Story Business News Story Education Story Government Story Crime & Court Story Election Story Art Reviews Business Feature Story Animal Feature Story Arts Feature or Story Comprehensive Coverage- Single Writer Comprehensive Coverage- Multiple Writers Feature Page Design Front Page Design Photo Essay Breaking News Photo General News Photo Feature Photo Portrait Photo Pictorial Photo Sports Feature Photo Tourism Special Sections Event/Festival Sections | Nancy Niles, Pete O'Cain, Emily Thornton, Jacob Ford, Oscar Rodriguez, Jennifer Rodas, Renee Diaz, Emily Thornton, Jessica Drake, Josey Meats, Stephanie Daugherty, Loren Benoit |
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber | |
Ad of the Year News Writer of the Year Single Advertiser- Smaller than 1/2 Page Multiple-Advertiser Ad Smaller than 1/2 Page Ad Use of Clip Art Youth-Oriented Content Online Photo Essay News Story- Long Environmental Story Education Story Social Issue Story Sports News Story Art Reviews Arts Feature or Story Comprehensive Coverage- Single Writer Editorial Editorial Cartoon Editorial Pages Community Service Photo Essay Topical- In-Paper Sections Special Section Covers Environmental Story Education Story Crime & Court Story News of the Weird General News Photo Portrait Photo | Daralyn Anderson, Sharon Newman-Adjiri, Alex Bruell, Mari Kanagy, Elizabeth Shepherd, Michelle Lassaline, Patricia Seaman, Aspen Anderson, Bryon Kempf |
Whidbey News-Times | |
Environmental Story Education Story Crime & Court Story News of the Weird General News Photo Portrait Photo | Jessie Stensland, David Welton |
Whitman County Gazette | |
General Excellence Photographer of the Year Humorous Ad Breaking News Story Election Story Arts Feature or Story Sports Feature Story Breaking News Photo Feature Photo Portrait Photo Event/Festival Sections | Teresa Simpson, Justin Slayton, Staff , Olivia Harnack, Matthew Strissel, Roger Harnack, Jake Hull |
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