The New Era received multiple awards at the Pacific Northwest News Contest, held in July.
Hosted by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association, the contest includes newspapers from Washington and Idaho, as well as Oregon. This year it was judged by newspaper journalists from the New Jersey Press Association.
Results were announced at ONPA’s annual convention July 24 in Salem.
The New Era competed in the weeklies division for newspapers in the 2,000-2,999 circulation category.
In the category considered the highest by participants, General Excellence, in which newspapers are judged based on the nature and thoroughness of news coverage, layout, photos and graphics, and advertising quality (design), The New Era was second, behind the Argus Observer of Ontario and ahead of the Woodburn Independent.
Judges credited the “generally clean” design and layout of TNE, noting that it also has a heavy focus on local news and features.
“We’re delighted to see that other journalists, who do what we do every day in other locations, think we’re doing good work,” said Scott Swanson, The New Era publisher and editor.
Other awards for the newspaper were:
First place in Best Educational Coverage for a story by Swanson about the need for infrastructure and facility improvements at Sweet Home High School.
First place in Best Overall Website to Sarah Brown, who is the primary poster and manager of sweethomenews.com.
First Place in Best News Photo by Satina Toleman, who covered the Sweet Home Rodeo last summer for The New Era, and shot a photo of rodeo clowns swooping in to rescue a downed bull rider from the aggressive bull.
Second Place Best Spot News for a story and photos by Swanson about how passersby, including two firefighters from Central Oregon, stopped to rescue a Sweet Home driver whose truck ran into the South Santiam River on Highway 20 in the area of the U.S. Forest Service campgrounds east of Sweet Home.
Second Place Best General Feature. The story, by Scott Swanson, focused on the metal fish project by Sweet Home High School metal shop students.
Third Place Best Business Coverage for a story by Swanson stemming from an interview with Samaritan Health CEO Marty Cahill about the behind-the-scenes challenges being faced by his hospitals.
“These days, being a journalist is very challenging and, frankly, sometimes it’s hard to just get these entries together. But going through the previous year’s editions also gives us a chance to evaluate our own work, so it’s not only fun to win but it’s also helpful, I think, just to do that review.
“I think these competitions have value for all newspapers, even those who are struggling with depleted staffs, and I’d like to see more participation, especially since it’s been expanded to include three states.”
Swanson said that, with circulation increases due to TNE’s expansion to covering Lebanon this year, the newspaper will be moving into competition against larger newspapers, which often tend to produce higher-quality work.
“Local newspapers are all in this together and this is a chance to encourage each other,” Swanson said.
See all the first-place winners at www.orenews.com/pub/doc/2026-PMWN-Presentation-final.pdf. (Note: The Better Newspaper Contest winners start with Slide 25. Those previous to that are free and non-subscriber newspapers.)