The Juneau Empire received 25 awards from the Alaska Press Club during an awards ceremony in Anchorage on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Empire competed in the large newspaper division in many categories, and against large and small newspapers, radio and TV stations in others.<\/p>\n
The 25 awards, which included eight first place, 10 second place and seven third place honors, were the most since the Empire began keeping a digital database for its articles in the late 1990s.<\/p>\n
Emily Russo Miller led the way with six individual awards, including three first place honors. Miller was named the Empire\u2019s deputy editor<\/a> in January and previously served as its cops and courts reporter since 2011. Michael Penn captured four awards in the photography category and Mary Catharine Martin received three awards for science and outdoors reporting, with two first place finishes. Martin was promoted to editor of the Capital City Weekly<\/a> in March.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything we do is for our readers, but it\u2019s always nice to be acknowledged by our peers for the work we do,\u201d said Empire Director of Audience Charles L. Westmorealnd. \u201cIn the digital age it\u2019s a challenge to balance quality with quantity, and in recent years I think our staff has met that challenge well and the recognition we received Saturday says as much. I\u2019m incredibly proud of our staff and appreciate the hard work they put in day and night serving the people of Juneau.\u201d<\/p>\n The Alaska Dispatch News took home the most awards with 44, including 23 first place honors. The Empire finished second among newspapers and the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner earned 16 awards for third.<\/p>\n The Empire\u2019s sister paper the Capital City Weekly took home three awards. Dick Callahan won first place for the best outdoors\/sports columnist, and Jim Hale took home the Suzan Nightingale Award for best columnist.<\/p>\n Individual award recipients were as follows:<\/p>\n 1st place<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Vern McCorkle Award for best business reporting, Emily Russo Miller, \u201cFlipping Douglas Island<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best graphic, James Brooks, \u201cAlaska\u2019s Arteries: A visual map of ferry system anemia<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best Alaska outdoors story, Mary Catharine Martin, \u201cCatching \u2018chromers\u2019 in Yakutat<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best science story, Mary Catharine Martin, \u201cKupreanof fossils paint picture of a warm and ancient Earth<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best reporting on crime or courts, Emily Russo Miller, \u201cIn Hoonah cop slayings, did darkness fall where light shone?<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best arts reporting, Emily Russo Miller, \u201cHerb Bonnet and his unfinished work<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best general news reporting, Sam DeGrave, \u201cLife in a smile<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best sports game\/event reporting, Klas Stolpe, \u201cHayward\u2019s heroics lifts Metlakatla<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n 2nd place<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Best graphic, James Brooks, \u201cThe cost of Thanksgiving<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best series, Emily Russo Miller, \u201cEmpire heroin series – B<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best page layout and design, Randi Spray, \u201cEmpire, Nov. 15, A1<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best breaking news story, Emily Russo Miller, \u201cMurder in the Valley<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best news photo, Michael Penn, \u201cCook memorial<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best science reporting, Mary Catharine Martin, \u201cTaku Glacier\u2019s advance stagnates<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best general news reporting, Melissa Griffiths, \u201cSame-sex marriage mixes with tribal sovereignty<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best portrait, Melissa Griffiths, \u201cSkagway Christmas – Riding the Santa train<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best reporting on government or politics, Stephanie Shor, \u201cHidden Valley, hidden controversy<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best feature photo, Klas Stolpe, \u201cCapturing the moment<\/a>\u201d (Click link, and see image 8 of 15)<\/p>\n 3rd place<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Vern McCorkle Award for best business reporting, Sam DeGrave, \u201cBringing LNG to the CBJ<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best short feature, Emily Russo Miller, \u201cHow to move a library<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best portrait, Michael Penn, \u201cObama visit 2<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best news photo, Michael Penn, \u201cObama visit 1<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best scenic photo, Michael Penn, \u201cTermination dust<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Best science reporting, Charles L. Westmoreland, \u201cAlaska Airlines turning to tree power<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n