WELLINGTON COUNTY – The Wellington Advertiser has won big for the fifth year in a row.
On May 24 the local newspaper took first place in the General Excellence category of the Ontario Community Newspapers Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Competition.
It’s the fifth straight year the Advertiser has won the award, which recognizes the publication as a whole, including its editorial and advertising content.
It beat out fellow finalists the Kitchissipi Times and the Listowel Independent Plus in the over-12,500 circulation class.
“[The Advertiser] includes lots of news on each front page to attract readers,” a three-judge panel noted in its decision.
“Publisher Dave Adsett’s editorials are powerfully written. The paper includes lots of letters to the editor, meaning that folks are engaged in the community.”
The judges also lauded the Advertiser for its “strong” arts and sports coverage, calling it, “A wonderful community newspaper.”
Adsett credited the community with driving the efforts of the paper’s staff each week.
“From the advertisers who make it financially possible to flourish, to the readers who take note in print and online, thank you for being a huge part of our success,” he said.
“Winning this coveted award for the fifth year in a row is an absolute honour.”
Adsett also highlighted the fact that many individuals from the Advertiser also received awards.
“Their weekly pursuit of excellence earned top marks,” he said.
Premier Awards
The Advertiser was recognized in the following 2023 BNC Premier Award categories:
- first place for Best Community Website/WebPortal, circ. over 10,000 (wellingtonadvertiser.com)
- first, Best Editorial circ. over 10,000, (for Avoiding the issue by Patrick Raftis);
- first, Humour Columnist of the Year (Write Out of Her Mind author Kelly Waterhouse);
- first, Feature Writing, circ. over 10,000 (‘Bluebird’ Alice Hindley cared for Canada’s wounded in First World War by Jordan Snobelen);
- first, Best News Story, circ. over 10,000 (Minto resident recovering after ‘freak accident’ by Patrick Raftis);
- first, Best Police/Court Story (‘My story is finally heard’: Erin man sentenced to seven years for ‘horrific’ sexual abuse by Jordan Snobelen);
- first, Local Retail Layout (July 13 ad by Steve Gilholm on Dixon Home Hardware’s 100th anniversary).
- second, Best Editorial Page/Section;
- second, Best Police/Court Series (three articles on the crimes and trial of a Mount Forest arsonist by Jordan Snobelen);
- second, Environment Ontario/environment writing (Crawford Lake documents dawn of potential new epoch by Robin George);
- second, Best Feature/Unit Pages (July 27 Equine feature);
- second, Best Use of Colour (Oct. 13, 2022 ad by Steve Gilholm for Robinson Chrysler);
- third, Best Front Page, circ. over 10,000 (Aug. 17 issue);
- third, Best Headline Writing (various headlines by Joanne Shuttleworth); and
- third, Best In House Promotion (Aug. 17 ad by Alicia Roza on Facebook blocking news articles).
The Advertiser’s sister publication, the North Wellington Community News, which covers Wellington North, Minto and Mapleton, was recognized in two Premier Award categories:
- third place for Best Feature/Unit pages (Feb. 9 Family Day feature); and
- third place for Best Creative Ad (Nov. 10, 2022 ad by Alicia Roza for Young’s Home Hardware).
The complete list of winners can be found at ocna.org.
