Sequim Gazette wins at state newspaper convention

Sue Ellen Riesau, publisher of the Sequim Gazette, was inducted as president of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association at its convention in Yakima Oct. 4-5. Riesau is pictured with Washington Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders who was honored with the Walter C. Woodward Freedom’s Light Award, which honors individuals who have protected the First Amendment in Washington state. Photo by Barney Burke, Port Townsend Leader

More than 80 newspapers compete for annual awards
Gazette staff

The Sequim Gazette, for the fourth year running, has taken the top prize in its category at the 121st annual Washington Newspaper Publishers Association convention.

The Gazette was honored with a General Excellence Award, which qualifies the newspaper as one of the best weeklies in the state. More than 80 weekly newspapers from Washington state competed for awards in reporting, editorial writing, design and advertising. Winners of the 2008 Washington Better Newspaper Contest were chosen from a total of 2,837 entries. The Louisiana Press Association judged WNPA’s contest this year. Winners were announced at the Better Newspaper Contest dinner during WNPA’s convention in Yakima.

“The Gazette took 32 awards, which is about what we did last year,” said Sue Ellen Riesau, publisher of the Sequim Gazette. “I’m just so proud of my staff because it takes a team to put out the kind of consistently good work that we win awards for.”

Within the 32 awards were 17 first-place advertising awards and 14 first-place news awards. In addition, sports editor Michael Dashiell was named Sportswriter of the Year and the CountyWide Classified section earned a
first-place award. This is the second time Dashiell has won the award and the third time for the
classified section.

“I couldn’t be happier with the Gazette staff and in particular for the recognition we received from our peers,” said Brown Maloney, the Sequim Gazette’s owner.

During the weekend convention Riesau was inducted as the 2008-2009 WNPA president. She has served as second vice president and first vice president in the previous two years and has served on the WNPA board since October 2004.

Her goals this year are to continue to build on member support services and to visit many of the smaller newspapers on the east side of the mountains that don’t have as many opportunities or the resources to take part in all the association has to offer.

The WNPA was founded in 1887 and represents about 130 community newspapers in Washington state. The association is an advocate for community newspapers, freedom of the press and open government.