The Sequim Gazette took home a coveted General Excellence award and other distinctions from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association (WNPA) annual convention, which took place Friday and Saturday, Oct. 3-4 in Wenatchee.
The Sequim Gazette won First Place for General Excellence, Group 2, two overall writing awards, Groups 1&2, and other writing and special section awards in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2025 Better Newspaper Contest.
Awards won were for the Group 2 or Groups 1&2 category. Newspapers are grouped according to circulation numbers.
The Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia (MDDC) Press judged the contest.
For General Excellence, judges wrote, “This newspaper really has something for everyone in the community. It is loaded with local content at practically every capacity. Also, wonderful job with use of ads. Nicely done.”
• In WNPA’s 2025 Better Newspaper contest, longtime Gazette reporter Matt Nash won First Place, Feature Writer of the Year, Groups 1&2; First Place, Group 2, News of the Weird; and Third Place, Election Story, Groups 1&2.
Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash/ In November 2024, Clallam County Master Gardener Gordon Clark cuts leaves off Isobel Johnston’s agave plant that she’s been growing for 28-plus years. She specifically requested Master Gardeners help her remove the plant while keeping at least one for years to come. Reporter Matthew Nash’s story “Master Gardeners help remove giant agave on Fifth Avenue” helped him win Feature Writer of the Year, Groups 1&2 in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2025 Better Newspaper Contest.
• Former Sequim Gazette editor Michael Dashiell won First Place, Sports Writer of the Year for Groups 1&2.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Raimey Brewer looks for space to put up a shot on goal in the Wolves’ Oct. 8, 2024 Olympic League game against Kingston. Former Gazette editor Michael Dashiell’s coverage of Sequim’s sports teams helped him win First Place, Sports Writer of the Year for Groups 1&2 in the Washington Newspaper Publisher Association’s 2025 Better Newspaper Contest.
The combined efforts of Nash and Dashiell were instrumental in the Gazette receiving the General Excellence honor.
The weekly newspaper received other honors as well.
• Former staffer Emily Matthiessen won Third Place, Business Feature Story, Group 2.
Sequim Gazette file photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Pictured in December 2024, Ann and Steve Johnson stand outside the Christmas Barn at Lazy J Tree Farm on the cusp of their busiest weekend of the U-Cut season. Johnson has spent his whole life on the farm, which has become a seasonal destination for local families for the last forty years. Former Gazette reporter Emily Matthiessen won Third Place, Business Feature Story, Group 2 in the Washington Newspaper Publisher Association’s 2025 Better Newspaper Contest.
• Gazette editor Kathy Cruz, who also serves as special sections editor for Sound Publishing’s Olympic News Group — which includes the Gazette, the Peninsula Daily News and the Forks Forum — won First Place, Lifestyle/Culture Sections, Groups 1&2, for “Living on the Peninsula,” a quarterly magazine, and Second Place, Tourism Special Sections, Groups 1&2.
Cover constructed by Olympic Peninsula News Group staff/ Gazette editor Kathy Cruz, who also serves as special sections editor for Sound Publishing’s Olympic News Group — which includes the Gazette, the Peninsula Daily News and the Forks Forum — won First Place, Lifestyle/Culture Sections, Groups 1&2, for “Living on the Peninsula,” a quarterly magazine, and Second Place, Tourism Special Sections, Groups 1&2 in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2025 Better Newspaper Contest.
Organizers report that 48 newspapers submitted entries with 36 in General Excellence, 875 in News, and 78 for special sections.
For more information about the WNPA, visit wnpa.com.
