Advertiser, Community News nominated for OCNA awards

WELLINGTON COUNTY – The Wellington Advertiser has been named one of the top three community newspapers in Ontario in its circulation class for the third year in a row.

On Feb. 14 the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA) announced the finalists for its 2021 Better Newspaper Competition (BNC).

Organized annually by the OCNA, the competition recognizes the work of community newspapers throughout the province.

The Advertiser was nominated in the general excellence category (circulation between 22,500 and 44,999) along with Niagara This Week and the Sarnia Journal.

The Advertiser was also named a finalist in the following premier award categories:

  • best front page (March 18, 2021);
  • best business and finance story (for an article on the horse racing industry by Jordan Snobelen);
  • best creative ad (by Jacqueline Furfaro);
  • local retail layout (Jacqueline Furfaro); and
  • best community website.

The Advertiser received  honourable mentions for best special section (Remembrance Day feature) and original ad idea (Jacqueline Furfaro).

The Advertiser’s sister publication, the North Wellington Community News, was nominated for best original ad idea (by Alicia Roza) and received an honourable mention for best creative ad (Alicia Roza).

Both the Community News and the Advertiser are finalists in the best editorial (circulation over 10,000 category). The Advertiser was selected for an editorial titled “Deafening silence” by editor Chris Daponte, while the Community News made the list for an editorial titled “Imported outrage an online hazard” by reporter Patrick Raftis.

The complete list of finalists can be found at www.ocna.org/2021-bnc-award-finalists.

The winners will be announced during a virtual presentation on April 29.