Peace Arch News is a finalist for two general-excellence awards – best in B.C. and best in Canada – and its staff have received international honours.
Following announcements that PAN has been judged in the top three overall newspapers for its circulation categories by both the B.C. Yukon Community Newspapers Association (BCYCNA) and Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA), the Local Media Association (LMA) has awarded several individual awards.
LMA, a non-profit professional trade association (formerly known as the Suburban Newspaper Association), represents more than 2,000 suburban and community newspapers in the U.S. and Canada.
LMA judges – from the journalism program at Medill School at Northwestern University in Illinois – awarded former Peace Arch News reporter Hannah Sutherland a first-place award for best continuing coverage of a news story in a large-circulation community newspaper, for a series of articles about local residents’ reactions to the 2011 earthquake that ravaged northeast Japan.
The LMA awarded PAN editor Lance Peverley first place in the best-headline category for the Sept. 10, 2010 front-page, “Christians share Muslims’ message,” about a local Christian church’s response to a U.S. congregation’s plan to burn copies of the Koran on the ninth anniversary of 9-11. Sunnyside United Rev. Stuart Lyster announced he would read from the Koran as part of the church’s Sunday service “to make a point that we aren’t part of what’s being proposed in Florida.”
In addition, for the third year in a row, Peverley won first place for best column writing for his column, On the Record.
As well, veteran PAN reporter Alex Browne took third place for best editorial writing.
PAN’s Indulge Magazine, edited by Melissa Smalley and distributed in Surrey, White Rock and Langley, won first place in the best wildcard (niche) product category.
The BCYCNA – which honoured PAN with the general excellence award last year – will announce this year’s winners Saturday at an industry gala in Richmond, and the CCNAs will be announced April 26 in Toronto.