2019 Better Newspaper Awards

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

The OCNA is proud to recognize the outstanding work produced by our member newspapers. Thank you to everyone that submitted entries for the 2019 BNC Awards. Finalists in each category are listed in alphabetical order below. First, second and third place winners will be presented during the Awards Gala on Friday, April 3 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Vaughan.

Online registration for the Spring Convention and Awards Gala is available now. To register, visit Spring Convention Registration.

General Excellence Awards

GE01 - Class 1: Circ. 1,999 & under

Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette

Blyth/Brussels Citizen

Burks Falls Almaguin News

GE02 - Class 2: Circ. 2,000 - 3,499

New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker

Vankleek Hill Review

Winchester Press

GE03 - Class 3: Circ. 3,500 - 6,499

Eganville Leader

Gravenhurst Banner

Niagara This Week, Niagara-on-the-Lake Advance

GE04 - Class 4: Circ. 6,500 - 12,499

Sponsored by: Metro Creative Graphics

Collingwood Connection

Haliburton, The Highlander

Niagara This Week, Fort Erie Post

GE05 - Class 5: Circ. 12,500 - 22,499

Elmira-Woolwich Observer

Northumberland News

Stouffville Sun-Tribune

GE06 - Class 6: Circ. 22,500 - 44,999

Sponsored by: Northern News Services

Fergus Wellington Advertiser

Guelph Mercury Tribune

Sudbury Northern Life

GE07 - Class 7: Circ. 45,000 & over

Ajax Pickering News Advertiser

Niagara This Week, St. Catharines

Oakville Beaver

GE08 - Class 8: College & University

Durham College - The Chronicle

Fanshawe College - Interrobang

University of Waterloo - Imprint

Honourable Mention: Algonquin College - Algonquin Times

College/University Awards

CU01 - Student Feature Writing

Sponsored by: Ontario General Contractors Association

Algonquin College - Jessica Alberga

Centennial College - Amarra Shakira Mohamed

Centennial College - Margaryta Ignatenko

Honourable Mention: Fanshawe College - Angela McInnes & Emma Fairgrieve

CU02 - Student News Writing

Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association

Humber College - Patrick Simpson

University of Waterloo - Harleen Kaur Dhillon

University of Waterloo - Varun Venkataramanan

CU03 - Student Photography

Centennial College - Ryan MacEachern

Loyalist College - Andrej Ivanov

Loyalist College - Gagandeep Sarangal

Honourable Mention: Humber College - Paige McGowan

CU04 - Best College/University Newspaper Website

Algonquin College - algonquintimes.ca

Durham College - chronicle.durhamcollege.ca

University of Waterloo - uwimprint.ca

Honourable Mention: Centennial College - torontoobserver.ca

Honourable Mention: Humber College - humberetc.ca

Premier Awards

PC01 - Arts & Entertainment

Sponsored by: Listowel Banner

Peterborough This Week

Sarnia Journal

Voice of Pelham

Honourable Mention: Haliburton County Echo

Honourable Mention: Sudbury Northern Life

PC02 - Best Business and Finance Story

Arnprior Chronicle-Guide

Milton Canadian Champion

Niagara This Week, Niagara Falls

PC03 - Best Editorial, circ. over 10,000

Barrie Advance

Brampton Guardian

Fergus Wellington Advertiser

Honourable Mention: Orangeville Citizen

PC04 - Best Editorial, circ. under 9,999

Eganville Leader

Haliburton, The Highlander

Manotick Messenger

PC05 - Education Writing

Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association

Cambridge Times

Milton Canadian Champion

Oshawa This Week

Honourable Mention: Northumberland News

PC06 - Environment Ontario

Carleton Place/Almonte Canadian Gazette

Richmond Hill/Thornhill Liberal

Smiths Falls Record News

PC07 - Feature Writing, circ. over 10,000

Sponsored by: O’Donnell, Robertson & Partners

Bradford West Gwillimbury Topic

Northumberland News

Richmond Hill/Thornhill Liberal

PC08 - Feature Writing, circ. under 9,999

Sponsored by: O’Donnell, Robertson & Partners

Barrhaven Independent

Manitoulin Expositor

Minden Times

PC09 - Health & Wellness

Peterborough This Week

Smiths Falls Record News

Uxbridge Cosmos

Honourable Mention: Brampton Guardian

PC10 - Heritage

Sponsored by: Fort Frances Times

Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette

Niagara This Week, Niagara-on-the-Lake Advance

Oshawa Express

Honourable Mention: Orillia Today

Honourable Mention: Parry Sound North Star

Honourable Mention: Peterborough This Week

PC11 - Best Investigative News Story

Oakville Beaver

Orangeville Banner

Voice of Pelham

Honourable Mention: Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette

PC12 - Best News Story, circ. over 10,000

Sponsored by: Hydro One

Muskokaregion.com

Perth Courier

Wasaga/Stayner Sun

PC13 - Best News Story, circ. under 9,999

Sponsored by: Hydro One

Glanbrook Gazette

The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton

Walkerton Herald Times

Honourable Mention: Aylmer Express

PC14 - Best Rural Story, circ.over 10,000

Sponsored by: Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Orangeville Banner

Port Perry/Uxbridge, The Standard

Wasaga/Stayner Sun

Honourable Mention: Elmira-Woolwich Observer

PC15 - Best Rural Story, circ. under 9,999

Sponsored by: Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette

Eganville Leader

Voice of Pelham

Honourable Mention: Wingham Advance Times

PC16 - Best Feature/News Series, circ. over 10,000

Sponsored by: Hydro One

Barrie Advance

Sarnia Journal

Vaughan Citizen

PC17 - Best Feature/News Series, circ. under 9,999

Sponsored by: Hydro One

Bracebridge Examiner

Eganville Leader

Voice of Pelham

PC18 - Sport & Recreation Story

Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette

Niagara This Week, The Leader

Sarnia Journal

Honourable Mention: Cornwall Seaway News

Honourable Mention: Minden Times

PC19 - Best Headline Writing

Ayr News

Cornwall Seaway News

Voice of Pelham

PC20 - Humour Columnist of the Year

Haliburton County Echo - Steve Galea

Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris

Niagara This Week, The Leader - James Culic

PC21 - Columnist of the Year

Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris

Mississauga News - John Stewart

Niagara This Week, The Leader - James Culic

Honourable Mention: Eganville Leader - Johanna Zomers

PC22 - Reporter of the Year - Stephen Shaw Award

Sponsored by: Ontario Power Generation

Haliburton, The Highlander - Joseph Quigley

Richmond Hill/Thornhill Liberal - Kim Zarzour

Vaughan Citizen - Jeremy Grimaldi

Honourable Mention: Ottawa Community Voice, West Carleton - Erin McCracken

PC23 - Best Feature Photo, circ. over 10,000

Peterborough This Week

Richmond Hill/Thornhill Liberal

Scarborough Mirror

Honourable Mention: Toronto York-City Centre Neighbourhood Voice

PC24 - Best Feature Photo, circ. under 9,999

Arnprior Chronicle-Guide

Glanbrook Gazette

Listowel Banner

PC25 - Best Photo Layout

Fergus Wellington Advertiser

New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker

The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton

Honourable Mention: Sarnia Journal

Honourable Mention: Etobicoke Guardian

PC26 - Best Sports Photo

Barrhaven Independent

Blyth/Brussels Citizen

Brampton Guardian

Honourable Mention: Port Perry Star

PC27 - Best Spot News Photo

Sponsored by: Listowel Banner

Alliston Herald

Haliburton Highlander

Renfrew Mercury

PC28 - Best News Photo

Brampton Guardian

Mississauga News

New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker

Honourable Mention: Haliburton County Echo

PC29 - Most Creative Grip and Grin Photo

Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette

Manitoulin Expositor

Oakville Beaver

Honourable Mention: Eganville Leader

Honourable Mention: North Grenville Times

PC30 - Photographer of the Year

Ajax Pickering News Advertiser - Ryan Pfeiffer

Haliburton County Echo - Darren Lum

Oshawa This Week - Sabrina Byrnes

PC31 - Cartoonist of the Year

Orleans Star - Sarah Chaplin

Oshawa Express - George Longley

Stoney Creek News - Mike Vukovich

PC32 - Community Service

New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker - Fundraiser on the Fairways

The Haldimand Press - All Candidates Debate

Uxbridge Cosmos - Federal Election 2019

PC33 - Best Vertical Product

Bracebridge Examiner - Muskoka Life

Burlington Post - West of the City - 100th edition

Caledon Enterprise - Sideroads of Caledon, Dufferin & King

PC34 - Best Front Page, circ. over 10,000

Sponsored by: Laurentian Publishing

Kemptville Advance

Milton Canadian Champion

Sudbury Northern Life

PC35 - Best Front Page, circ. under 9,999

Sponsored by: Laurentian Publishing

Eganville Leader

Fort Frances Times

The Haldimand Press

Honourable Mention: Vankleek Hill Review

PC36 - Best Sports Section

Elmira-Woolwich Observer

New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker

Voice of Pelham

PC37 - Special Section, circ . over 10,000

Caledon Enterprise - 130th Anniversary

Milton Canadian Champion - Welcome to Milton

Sarnia Journal - Sarnia Remembers

Honourable Mention: Georgetown/Acton Independent & Free Press - Halton Hills Festivals and Events Guide

PC38 - Special Section, circ. under 9,999

Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette - Christmas Wishes 2018

Eganville Leader - Irish Edition March 6, 2019

The Haldimand Press - Farms Harvest 2019

PC39 - Best Feature/Unit Pages

Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Broadline Rentals

Fort Frances Times - EMO Walleye Classic

The Haldimand Press - Saluting our Heroes… lest we forget

PC40 - Best Creative Ad

Haliburton, The Highlander

Manitoulin Expositor

Scarborough Mirror

Honourable Mention: Deep River North Renfrew Times

PC41 - In House Promotion

Cornwall Seaway News

Sarnia Journal

The Herald Serving Thamesville, Dresden and Bothwell

PC42 - Local Retail Layout

Sponsored by: Metro Creative Graphics

Drayton Community News

Fergus Wellington Advertiser

Fort Frances Times

PC43 - Original Ad Idea

Haliburton, The Highlander

Orangeville Banner

The Haldimand Press

PC44 - Best Use of Colour

Deep River North Renfrew Times

Fergus Wellington Advertiser

Kincardine Independent

Honourable Mention: Manotick Messenger

PC45 - Best Community Website/WebPortal, circ. over 10,000

Cornwall Seaway News - cornwallseawaynews.com

Elmira-Woolwich Observer - ObserverXtra.com

Sudbury Northern Life - sudbury.com

Honourable Mention: Hamilton Mountain News - hamiltonnews.com

PC46 - Best Community Website/WebPortal, circ. under,9 999

Burks Falls Almaguin News - northbaynipissing.com

Parry Sound North Star - parrysound.com

Vankleek Hill Review - thereview.ca

Honourable Mention: North Grenville Times - ngtimes.ca

PC47 - ONLINE Special Initiative

Barrie Advance

Cambridge Times

Newmarket Era/Aurora Banner

PC48 - ONLINE Breaking News Coverage

Burlington Post

Caledon Enterprise

Sudbury Northern Life

PC49 - Multimedia Online/Best Online Experience for a Story

Burlington Post

Georgetown/Acton Independent & Free Press

Sudbury Northern Life

PC50 - Breaking News Video

Bracebridge Examiner

Caledon Enterprise

Peterborough This Week

Questions? Contact Karen Shardlow at k.shardlow@ocna.org or 416-923-7724 ext. 4432.

The Better Newspapers Competition website is now open for entries. Submit your entries in PDF format by visiting the OCNA BNC Competition website at OCNA BNC Contest Website.

Dates (Mark You Calendars)	October 1, 2019 - Submissions Open October 31, 2019 - Submissions Close October 1, 2018 - September 30, 2019 - Your entries must have been published in this timeframe February 14, 2020 - OCNA will post the top three finalists in alphabetical order at www.ocna.org April 3, 2020 - Awards Gala at the Hilton Garden Inn in Vaughan, where we reveal the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.
Submission Types	PDF - Upload PDF files for all category entries, including those you are sending to the office in hardcopy (these require front page pdf only). HARD COPY - The General Excellence Categories (make sure you register for them online) as well as Premier categories Best Vertical Product and Special Section must be mailed to the OCNA address below. The OCNA must receive these hard copies NO LATER THAN October 31, 2019, so mail them early. Please send to OCNA c/o Awards, 37 Front Street E, Ste 200 Toronto, ON M5E 1B3.
Payment	Now made online at the contest website, and must be done by October 31, 2019.
Changes for 2019	Active Member Changes: Changed Criteria: Photographer of the Year -Include one photo from any four of the following five photography subjects: Spot News Photo, Sports Photo, Community Event Photo, Feature Photo, News Photo and a letter from the publisher/editor outlining the photographer's commitment to community journalism. New Category: Best Feature/Unit Pages - Entries should show an innovative approach to a traditional theme or development of a new theme. Could be a holiday (Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day) or a community event. Judging will be based on originality of idea including advertising presentation, quality editorial content, effective use of photographs. Aimed at generating volume sales, the section might be for a grand opening anniversary sale, or special occasion, etc. Entries must be run-of-press sections. Layout can be two to four pages. NEW Category: Breaking News Video - This award will recognize the best single Breaking News video presentation. Entries will be judged on quality of video, including audio and editing; creative and innovative storytelling; journalistic quality and impact. New Category: Best Printed Blooper - JUST FOR FUN - NO JUDGING! Despite all our efforts, bloopers still seem to slip past our editorial eyes! Entries in this just-for-fun category will be displayed at our 2020 Spring Convention and Awards Gala so we can all share both a laugh and a cry at some of the goofs we've made over the past year. Bloopers may be editorial or advertising, and may include comical mistakes, outrageous errors and/or hilarious headlines. General Excellence - Sports Section value has gone from 50 points to 25 points. Arts coverage has been added worth 25 points. College/University Member Changes: Changed Criteria - Best College/University Newspaper Website - Advertising has been removed from the criteria, and replaced with social media strategy.
2019 forms	2019 BNC Category Descriptions 2019 Rules of Entry 2019 Entry Tags - General Excellence 2019 Entry Tags - Special Section Vertical Product 2019 GE Judge Guidelines - Active Members 2019 GE Judge Guidelines - College University

If you have any questions, please contact OCNA Member Services Coordinator Karen Shardlow

e-mail at k.shardlow@ocna.org
by phone at 416-923-7724 ext. 4432

The OCNA is pleased to be able to recognize the passion you have for your profession and the outstanding work you produce each week! Good luck and thank you for your participation.