The New Era’s coverage of the February 2002 wind storm that knocked out power to Sweet Home area families for up to a week, earned a first place award Saturday from the Greater Oregon Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
The award was presented at the SPJ’s annual banquet held at the Monarch Hotel and Conference Center in Portland and was for non-daily newspapers under 8,000 circulation. Awards were also presented to the states daily newspapers, radio stations and television stations.
Judges said of the story entitled, “Freak Storm Sucker Punches Sweet Home”: “Detailed eye witness accounts, multiple art, juicy writing and indepth coverage produced a hometown must-read package.”
The story was written by The New Era publisher Alex Paul.
A review of a new book, “Proof Through The Night” an account of World War II POW Ernest Pickett written by his daughter, K.P. Burke, earned a third place award in the Arts and Criticism category. The story was also written by Paul.
Featured speaker was Jan Eliot, cartoonist of “Stone Soup” comic strip syndicated in more than 140 newspapers. She told of her 16 year effort to become a successful cartoonist and the struggles to be one of only 10 women penning a nationally syndicated strip.