[ Awards Index | MetroActive Central ]

An Even Dozen

Six Metro Newspapers publications hauled a total of 12 awards -- nine for first place -- at the 1996 California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA) Better Newspapers Contest, held July 19 at the Doubletree Hotel in Monterey. Metro Metro writer Ami Chen Mills won first-place awards in two categories: investigative or enterprise reporting (for an article about penile enlargement surgery) and environmental reporting (about sea lions). Metro competed against California weeklies with circulation of 25,001 and over. Metro Santa Cruz Metro Santa Cruz (circulation 11,001-25,000 category) garnered three first-place awards. Honors went to Kelly Luker for an investigative or enterprise reporting (for an article on housing problems), Buz Bezore for editing, Christina Waters for lifestyle coverage (on the Frankilin Mint) and Robert Scheer for a photo essay (on faith and spirituality). Cupertino Courier Editor Mike de Give and the staff of the Cupertino Courier (circulation 11,001-25,000) received a second-place award for general excellence. Los Gatos Weekly-Times Weekly-Times photographer George Sakkestad received a second-place award for sports photography and editor Dale Bryant's editorial section was deemed best in its category. Saratoga News Competing against weekly newspapers with circulations of 4,300 to 11,001, the Saratoga News grabbed a first-place award for a feature story on a self-defense instructor by reporter Cecily Barnes and second-place design honors for production manager Robin Mendez, who also received a first-place design award for her work in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times (competing in the 11,001-25,000 circulation category). Willow Glen Resident The Willow Glen Resident (circulation 11,001-25,000) came back with a first-place award for editor Maggie Benson for feature story on a lollipop factory.