Students in the Junior Journalists program brainstorm article ideas at Skidompha Library in Damariscotta on Feb. 19. The program received first place for Best Young Reader Engagement Idea in the 2018-2019 Maine Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.
The Lincoln County News swept first, second, and third place for its efforts to engage young readers and Lincoln County Magazine took first and second in the category for special publications in the 2018-2019 Maine Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.
The awards for the magazine and work with young readers were among 29 honors for The Lincoln County News.
Among those honors were first place for Editorial Cartoonist, Education Story, Feature Headline, Local Ad, and Sports News Story.
The honors for the magazine recognize two editions from the first year of a complete overhaul of the magazine, from design to editorial content to advertising. The “Made in Lincoln County” edition won first place, while the “Farm & Table” edition took second.
Maia Zewert is project coordinator for the magazine.
“The creative overhaul of Lincoln County Magazine was a huge undertaking by the entire staff of The Lincoln County News, and we are all incredibly proud of the final product,” Zewert said. “From the editorial department to the advertising team, from the graphic designers to the people working on the press, everyone contributed to make this happen and to see it recognized is just awesome.”
Christine LaPado-Breglia is the editor of the magazine.
“Wow! As editor of the revamped Lincoln County Magazine, I have to say that this feat could not have been accomplished without a whole lot of teamwork and willingness to think outside of the box on the part of everyone involved – the writers, the design team, and so on. Thank you!” LaPado-Breglia said.
The LCN swept the category of Best Young Reader Engagement Idea.
The judges gave first place to the newspaper’s “Junior Journalists” program, a collaboration with Skidompha Library; second to “GSB Students Investigate,” a collaboration with Great Salt Bay Community School; and third to a survey of young readers.
The “Junior Journalists” and “GSB Students Investigate” initiatives combine classroom instruction about community journalism with hands-on opportunities for students to become community journalists. In both cases, the newspaper publishes a selection of the students’ articles.
Zewert, marketing and engagement coordinator for the newspaper, developed the programs and works with students, educators, and the newspaper’s staff to make them happen.
“Reaching the next generation of LCN readers is vital to the newspaper’s continued success, and to have this past year’s efforts recognized is amazing,” Zewert said. “We’re continually striving to find new ways to make engagement educational and fun, and we can’t wait to see what this next year brings.”
Among the other honors, editorial cartoonist Glenn Chadbourne took first place among all weekly cartoonists for the fourth time in six years, after wins in 2014, 2015, and 2016.
The judge praised Chadbourne for top-notch “artistic ability on par with anything from nationally syndicated cartoonists. Intricate detail makes each a work of art.”
LCN staffers collected the honors during the Maine Press Association’s annual awards banquet at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in South Portland.
The contest divides newspapers into three categories: dailies and large and small weeklies by circulation.
The LCN competes in the category for the state’s large weekly newspapers. Industry professionals from outside Maine judge the entries. The judges of the 2018-2019 contest work in Kentucky.
The awards ceremony is the final event of the Maine Press Association’s annual conference, which includes a full day of professional development and talks about industry trends.
Rebecca Corbett, assistant managing editor of The New York Times, was the keynote speaker. A member of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team behind the Times’ investigation of sexual harassment by the film mogul Harvey Weinstein, Corbett has Maine roots as a 1974 graduate of Colby College and a former editor at the Morning Sentinel, of Waterville.
J.W. Oliver, editor of The Lincoln County News, spoke at the conference lunch as the association’s 2017-2018 Journalist of the Year.
Oliver is also the incoming president of the association, the first representative of The Lincoln County News to serve in the role since the late Samuel E. Roberts 50 years ago. Roberts, publisher of the newspaper from 1966-1992, was president from 1969-1970.
Established in 1864, the Maine Press Association works to protect the freedom of the press and the public’s right to know, and to promote and foster high ethical standards in journalism.
A complete list of LCN honors follows:
First Place, Best Young Reader Engagement Idea: “Junior Journalists,” Maia Zewert
First Place, Editorial Cartoonist Glenn Chadbourne
First Place, Education Story: “To learn about business, Chewonki students start businesses,” Jessica Clifford
First Place, Feature Headline: “Lincoln County’s Batman evicts bats with compassion, sings lullabies to skunks,” J.W. Oliver
First Place, Local Ad: “101st Birthday,” Megan Hyson
First Place, Self-Promotion Chamber Award, Staff
First Place, Sports News Story: “MVHS Unified basketball brings joy to players and supporters,” Paula Roberts
First Place, Supplement/Special Section: “Made in Lincoln County,” Staff
Second Place, Arts/Lifestyle Feature: “Late New Harbor composer John Morris honored at Academy Awards,” Christine LaPado-Breglia
Second Place, Best Digital Ad Campaign: “Coastal Car Wash & Detail Center,” Amber Clark
Second Place, Best New Revenue Idea: “Magazine Revamp,” Staff
Second Place, Best Young Reader Engagement Idea: “GSB Students Investigate,” Staff
Second Place, Environmental Story: “Lincoln County’s Batman evicts bats with compassion, sings lullabies to skunks,” J.W. Oliver
Second Place, Food Story/Feature: “Husband and wife launch chocolate business on Monhegan,” Maia Zewert
Second Place, Game Story: “Lady Seahawks bring gold ball home to Boothbay,” Paula Roberts
Second Place, Outdoors Story: “Hog Island hike examines shell middens,” Alexander Violo
Second Place, Religion/Spirituality Feature: “Damariscotta’s People to People celebrates 50th anniversary,” Jessica Picard
Second Place, Self-Promotion: “Open House,” Staff
Second Place, Supplement/Special Section: “Farm & Table,” Staff
Third Place, Arts/Lifestyle Feature: “‘Mumbai to Maine’ creator puts Boothbay on culinary map,” Christine LaPado-Breglia
Third Place, Best Supplement Cover: “Outdoors,” Megan Hyson
Third Place, Best Young Reader Engagement Idea: “Reader Survey,” Staff
Third Place, Campaign or Series: “75 Cents,” Amber Clark
Third Place, Critic’s Award: “Review: McCutcheon show has powerful effect, even from a distance,” Christine LaPado-Breglia
Third Place, Education Story: “WMHS students analyze blood spatter, measure maggots in forensics class,” Jessica Clifford
Third Place, Food Story/Feature: “RSU 40 students learn, sample local fare with FoodCorps,” Alexander Violo
Third Place, News Headline: “Year-round Monhegan couple brews new coffee-roasting business,” Maia Zewert
Third Place, Sports News Story: “Newcastle man helps prepare field for Super Bowl LIII,” Paula Roberts
Third Place, Spot News Story: “Jefferson barn fire claims a dozen animals, but farmer will rebuild,” Jessica Clifford
