Three firsts, five seconds and two thirds.
The Humboldt Journal walked away with 10 awards at the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association's convention in Saskatoon April 15-16.
The 2011 SWNA awards were presented at a banquet on April 16.
The Journal won Best Front Page in the 2,000 to 3,499 circulation class, and took second place in the Best Overall Paper category in that circulation class as well.
In the judge's comments, it was noted that "This is a solid community newspaper obviously put together by people who care about their community. Photos are good, advertising is strong, and presentation is clean and uncluttered with good local features and sports. Classified advertising is strong and production quality is high, a very good front page and a solid editorial page round out this good example of community journalism. This is a great paper."
Journal staff members were up for eight Premier Awards from the SWNA.
Editor Keri Dalman won first place in the Best Health-Healthcare coverage category for stories on the construction of the Humboldt District Health Complex in 2010.
Former Journal reporter Pat Peckover also won first place for Best Ag Story, for her piece about flooded agricultural land which ran in the June 9, 2010 edition.
Dalman claimed second place in the Editorial Writing Excellence category for an opinion piece of the dangers of trains, and for Best Saskatchewan Cultural story for her story about the archeological dig at the Original Humboldt site, which ran October 6, 2010.
Reporter Jodi Schellenberg placed second in the Best People Photo category for her photo of children involved in a water fight which ran on the front page of the July 28 edition.
The entire Journal newsroom placed second in the Best Overall Coverage of K-12 Education category.
Schellenberg and Dalman placed third in the Best Saskatchewan Cultural Story, Feature or Series category for their coverage of a speaker series on Original Humboldt, which ran last spring.
And graphic designer Krista Grimson placed third in the Best Ad category for the ad she designed for Discovery Ford, which ran on July 21, 2010.
The Journal is also shortlisted for three Canadian Community Newspaper Awards from the Canadian Community Newspaper Association (CCNA).
The Journal is up for the Best Holiday Edition award in the circulation class up to 3,999 for the December 22 edition, which featured holiday greetings from local businesses.
The Journal newsroom is shortlisted for the best business writing award for a story which ran on July 28, 2010, regarding the effect the closure of Hwy. 5 west of the city last summer had on local businesses.
And Peckover is up for Best Agricultural Story for the same story that earned her a nod at the provincial level.
The CCNA will announce its award recipients at a gala event on April 29.
