NWN judged tops in Editorial Excellence

For the second time in three years, the Northern Wyoming News earned the Editorial Excellence Award for small weeklies for 2023.

The award, a traveling trophy and a plaque, was presented at the 125th annual winter convention of the Wyoming Press Association in Casper. The editorials are written by Karla Pomeroy, editor and general manager of the News. Eight to 10 editorials from the past year (Nov. 1, 2022, to Oct. 31, 2023) are submitted for judging by the National Newspaper Association editorial winners.

The Northern Wyoming News staff also won several staff and individual Pacemaker awards in the small weekly division at the WPA convention. The awards came in the small weekly division, the largest division in Wyoming with 27 weekly newspapers.

Production Manager and graphic designer Jane Gates swept the merchandise ad design category with a first place for a McKinnon Flooring ad and second place for Sunlight Federal Credit Union ad. Of the McKinnon ad “Fall In Love With Your Home Again, judges said, “Appealing ad for flooring. Good usage of graphics, layout and design. Visually appealing.” Of the Sunlight ad, judges said, “Creative font adds to appeal.”

Former staff member Avery Howe took first place in general news photo with her “Watchful Eye” as son Lincoln looked on while Sheriff Austin Brookwell signed his oath of office. Judges said, “This was the best moment and best framing among the field.”

Howe also won first place in the news feature story category with her “Climbing Past Controversy” feature in the Big Horn Basin Edition. Judges wrote, “Breathtaking article with pithy information on the impact of trail development and the need for rangers. So much first-person information from climbers and others impacted by the changes. Some of the quotes are a bit long, but the effort to uplift the voices of the people is admirable. I now care deeply about maintaining the resilience of TenSleep Canyon, a place I’ve never been (unfortunately). Just excellent harnessing of various sides of the issue -- a controversy where everyone loves and wants the same things, and wants to avoid it being ‘loved to death.’”

Pomeroy earned second place honors for her general news story package on the search for Breanna Mitchell. Judges wrote, “Solid continuing coverage of an ongoing situation. The feature on the search company added an extra dimension to the reporting.”

Sports Editor Alex Kuhn took second place in sports column writing for “Hear Me Out.” This is is sixth award in that category.

The Northern Wyoming News staff took second place for their tourism guide The Basin. Judges wrote, “Very key information for tourists to the region. Great content info in the first pages. Nicely laid out with attractive images and short and succinct text. A close second.”

Howe took second in feature story with her feature on the Clark sisters “Lessons in Livestock.”

Kuhn and Howe won honorable mention for open page design for their “Basketball Champs” page. Judges wrote, “Good use of photos conveys the excitement of the win.”