ANI picks up five journalism awards

TAMMY JUDD

April 25, 2008 at 9:53AM AKST

During the 2008 Alaska Press Club journalism awards banquet in Anchorage on Saturday, four out of six weekly newspapers owned by Alaska Newspapers won awards.

One of the newspapers, The Bristol BayTimes, won two awards, which brought the total to five.

The Arctic Sounder story, "Mystery deepens as belugas surface," earned news editor Tamar Ben-Yosef a first place award in the Best General News Story, small newspapers, category. >

Two stories published in The Bristol BayTimes earned awards for Dustin Solberg, statewide reporter for Alaska Newspapers and news editor of The Tundra Drums. Solberg won second place in the category of Best Reporting on Health Science, all publications, for his story, "Toxins in Our World," and third place in the Best Environmental Reporting, small newspapers, category, for "Drawing a line in the sea."

Judges had this to say about Solberg’s third place win, "The lede set the tone: A mysterious line of massive trawlers, far on the horizon, doing god-knows-what damage to the marine environment. What followed was a gripping account of frustrated Bering coast residents confronting an international fishing fleet. Mr. Solberg should be congratulated for showing how an international conflict plays out on the local stage."

A contributed photograph by Bob Martinson titled "Rainbow Boat" won first place for The Cordova Times. The judge had this to say, "A classic rainbow image cast in a still-life scene of serenity along the waterfront. Then, throw into that mix the wonderful mirror-like reflection. The result is stunning a clearly first-place. I’d like to keep it on my desktop it’s so much fun to look at over and over again."

The Dutch Harbor Fisherman reporter Monica Southworth won Best Use of Story and Photos by a Journalist, small newspapers, category for her story,'a0"> Camp Qungaayux passes the Aleut flame."

Among the judges’ comments on Southworth’s story, "Nice variety of well-displayed images helps form a complete package '85 clearly the leader of the pack and unanimous vote by the judges."

Southworth, an Unalaska resident, former news editor and now an occasional contributor to the The Fisherman, is completing her undergraduate studies at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.

"These award-winning journalists continue to make a difference in the lives of our rural Alaska readers," said Randall Howell, managing editor of Alaska Newspapers, which publishes The Tundra Drums, The Bristol BayTimes, The Arctic Sounder, The Cordova Times, The Seward Phoenix Log and The Dutch Harbor Fisherman.

"We’re proud of them and the work they do each and every day to keep the voice of rural Alaska alive and meaningful," Howell said.

Alaska Newspapers publisher Therese O’Neill offered congratulations to all of the Alaska Press Club winners and said she was especially proud of her staff.

For more information about The Alaska Press Club visit online at .

Tammy Judd can be reached at (907) 348-2432 or (800) 770-9830 ext. 432.