It is the most competitive contest of the year and 2008 was no exception. Hundreds
of newspapers competed. The judges labored over many worthy entries. In the end,
six newspapers stood out from the field.
2008 Newspapers of the Year: 1st Place
Non-Dailies, Up to 10,000 Circulation
The Riverdale Press, Richner Communications
Non-Dailies, 10,001-22,500 Circulation
Coast Reporter, Madison Publishing, Ltd./Glacier Media Group
Non-Dailies, 22,501-37,500 Circulation
The Chilliwack Progress, Black Press, Ltd.
Non-Dailies, Over 37,500 Circulation
The Era Banner, Metroland Media Group, Ltd.
Dailies, Under 30,000 Circulation
The Beacon News, Sun-Times News Group
Dailies, Over 30,000 Circulation
Arizona Daily Star, Lee Enterprises, Inc.
2008 Newspapers of the Year: 2nd & 3rd Place
2nd Place General Excellence
Non-Dailies, Up to 10,000 Circulation
Wilmette Life/Pioneer Press Newspapers, Sun-Times News Group
3rd Place General Excellence
Non-Dailies, Up to 10,000 Circulation
South Whidbey Record/Sound Publishing, Black Press, Ltd.
2nd Place General Excellence
Non-Dailies, 10,001-22,500 Circulation
Howard County Times, Patuxent Publishing Company
3rd Place General Excellence
Non-Dailies, 10,001-22,500 Circulation
The Longboat Observer, The Observer Group
2nd Place General Excellence
Non-Dailies, 22,501-37,500 Circulation
Whitby This Week, Metroland Media Group, Ltd.
3rd Place General Excellence
Non-Dailies, 22,501-37,500 Circulation
The News, Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows, Black Press, Ltd.
2nd Place General Excellence
Non-Dailies, Over 37,500 Circulation
St. Louis American, American Publishing Company
3rd Place General Excellence
Non-Dailies, Over 37,500 Circulation
Bayside Times, Times Ledger Newspapers
2nd Place General Excellence
Dailies, Under 30,000 Circulation
The Herald-Times, Schurz Communications
3rd Place General Excellence
Dailies, Under 30,000 Circulation
The Daily Journal, Small Newspaper Group
2nd Place General Excellence
Dailies, Over 30,000 Circulation
The Baltimore Examiner, Clarity Media Group
3rd Place General Excellence
Dailies, Over 30,000 Circulation
The Standard-Times, Ottaway Newspapers
For a complete listing of all our winners, complete with Judges' comments, please
visit our Contest Page.
Winners will be recognized in a 2-page, four-color spread in the October issue of
Editor & Publisher and also at the SNA Fall Publishers'
and Advertising Directors' Conference, being held October 7-10, 2008 at
the Hyatt Regency, Minneapolis, MN. Those in attendance will be honored during the
annual SNA Awards luncheon on Wednesday, October 8, 2008.
Click here for the complete conference agenda.
Winners will also be recognized with engraved award plaques. With that in mind,
it is very important that you review your winning entry for accuracy. Should you
find an error in the listing of your newspaper name, city or state, please email
the corrections to sna@suburban-news.org
no later than Thursday, August 21, 2008.
This contest is broken down into four non-daily circulation classes and two daily
classes. Judging for this year's contest was conducted by executives from The American
Press Institute. As always, it was a very competitive competition.
Praise from Drew Davis, API President and Executive Director:
"It's great to see that newspapering is still done with such a passion in so many
places. The winning entries, regardless of size, all had a clear understanding of
and commitment to the 'jobs to be done' that their readers and business customers
need. Some of the key strengths we saw across all winning entries: forward-looking,
issues-oriented reporting and analysis; superior writing and editing; a tight, well-showcased
connection between print and online content; a sense of enthusiasm for the people
and the communities being covered; multiple points of reader engagement across multiple
platforms; bold graphics and presentation; and a broad base of support from local
businesses and private-party classifieds. Happily, these are some of the very things
that will help newspapers strengthen their local information and connection franchise
into the future, and we congratulate the winners on their ability to do them so
well."
Special thanks to Classified Avenue, our sponsor for the 2008 Newspaper of the Year/General
Excellence contest. To learn more about Classified Avenue or to become a participant,
contact Deanna Lewis at (888) 486-2466 or
deanna.lewis@suburban-news.org.
Congratulations to all winners.