LISTOWEL – Midwestern Newspapers has been nominated for 12 Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA) 2022 Better Newspapers Competition awards, the organization announced on Feb. 14.
The Listowel Banner was recognized in six different categories for the prestigious provincial honours (links provided where applicable):
General Excellence – circulation under 1,999
Best Headline Writing
Best Front Page – circulation under 9,999
Humour Columnist of the Year – Dan McNee
- Streaming, flaxen, waxen – Aug. 4, 2022
- Running out of time? No way, still in her prime – June 9, 2022
- The dirty business of coming clean – Jan. 20, 2022
Best Photo Layout – Mike Wilson, Dan McNee and Janine Martin
Best Community Website/Portal – circulation under 9,999 (honourable mention)
Additionally, the Independent Plus received three OCNA award nominations, as well as an honourable mention for General Excellence – circulation over 22,500:
Best Vertical Product – Country Life, Spring 2022
Special Section, circulation over 10,000 – Milverton Fire Department 100th Anniversary
- Milverton Fire Department – 100th Anniversary – September 2022
Best Rural Story, circulation over 10,000 – Dan McNee
- Local farmers stress driving patience for motorists – July 21, 2022
The Walkerton Herald-Times received two nominations:
Humour Columnist of the Year – Mike Wilson
- Mr. Stick Man – July 21, 2022
- Watching my life flash before my eyes – July 14, 2022
- First injury of the hockey season – Oct. 21, 2022
Best Photo Layout – Pauline Kerr and Janine Martin
The Wingham Advance Times was recognized in three categories:
Best Heritage Story – Cory Bilyea
- Remembering the Wingham Salt Works – April 21, 2022
Best Diversity Coverage – Cory Bilyea
- Italian author dies in Canada, fulfilling his life’s destiny – Sept. 1, 2022
- Survivor’s Flag unveiled at Parliament ceremony – Oct. 14, 2021
- The importance of going beyond the symbols – May 12, 2022
- Critically endangered ‘Ojibwe Spirit Horses’ visit Seaforth P.S. – June 16, 2022
Best Sports Photo – Kelsey Bent (honourable mention)
- Dinning Cup returns to Madill after two years – May 5, 2022
“Midwestern Newspapers is made up of a group of very talented, dedicated individuals who are great at what they do,” commented Midwestern Newspapers Editor Mike Wilson. “Our readers have told us time and time again that our content is top-notch, and the production and layout are high quality. For us, it is very exciting yet humbling to be recognized by our peers for the work we do each week. What I am proud of the most is that our 12 nominations represent the work of every single member of the Midwestern Newspapers team.
“It is our honour to serve our communities as the newspaper of record, and is something we take great pride in. I believe these nominations reflect that.”
Midwestern Newspaper’s 12 award nominations for the 2022 Better Newspapers Competition mark the highest total the company has received since its inception in 2019.
The top three finalists for each competition category were announced on Tuesday, with a virtual awards ceremony announcing the winners scheduled for later this spring.
