The Estevan Mercury won a pair of top honours at the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association’s (SWNA) awards.
The SWNA awards for 2019 were announced Wednesday afternoon.
In Class C for newspapers with a circulation of 2,000-6,499, the Mercury was recognized for having the best front page and for being the best overall paper.
In the top front page category, the Mercury received praise for its content, layout, and typography.
In the best all-around paper voting, the Mercury had the highest scores for community news and advertising content. They also finished tied for first for sports coverage, local features and classified advertising.
The judges noted the Class C category was a pleasure to adjudicate, and it was rewarding to see the efforts of localized editorial staff focused on bringing the news of their area to light.
“The Estevan Mercury was the cream of the crop due to their focus on local stories and commentary.”
There is little in the paper from outside of its distribution area, and the judges said that should be the goal of a community-minded paper.
The Mercury also finished third for the best editorial page.
Deanna Tarnes, the publisher and sales manager for the Mercury, said she was proud of the team’s efforts.
“We take great pride in being Estevan’s source for local news and stories. Our small team works hard every day to bring the current news to you and provide a valuable, effective platform for local businesses to advertise. It is really nice to be acknowledged for our efforts with these awards.”
Southeast Lifestyles, which was produced out of the Mercury’s office until earlier this year, scooped up a couple of recognitions as well for Class D papers with a distribution of at least 6,500. The publication was second for best editorial page, with top marks for its local content and appearance, and it was third for the top front page, thanks to its content and photography.
Lifestyles finished fourth in the best overall category, with judges impressed by its community news, advertising content and features.
