The PQB News has earned a Ma Murray Award as B.C.’s best community newspaper in its circulation class.
The B.C. and Yukon Community NewsMedia Association staged its annual awards gala at North Vancouver’s Polygon Gallery on April 20.
The PQB News won gold for general excellence award in the 11,001 to 21,000 circulation category. The other finalists were the North Delta Reporter and the Coast Reporter.
Longtime PQB News reporter/photographer Michael Briones captured a pair of individual awards. Briones won gold for sports photos (more than 11,000 circulation) for ‘Thunder Dunk’ and silver in the photo essay category for ‘Eagles on the Hunt’. PQB News/VI Free Daily editor Philip Wolf won silver in the best columnist category for ‘Shrieking, shirtless car wash guy may be a bee-sting victim’.
READ MORE: Black Press Media journalists win big at B.C. and Yukon journalism awards
“The awards reflect the continued outstanding work from our entire team – every single person who works each day to put out our products,” said PQB News publisher Teresa Bird. “Being judged the best newspaper of our size in B.C. in an exceptional honour. It’s also reflective of the amazing community we work in and of our ongoing commitment to our readers and advertisers.”
The PQB News, part of Black Press Media, is one of three papers in a central Vancouver Island group overseen by publisher Bird. The Westerly News won a silver in general excellence in its category, while Alberni Valley News editor Susie Quinn was awarded silver in spot news photo (under 11,000 circulation) category and Elena Rardon won silver for business writing.
— NEWS Staff