Beacon nabs two awards at ACNA Conference

The Beacon has once again shown itself to be a noteworthy publication in the Atlantic region, following the Atlantic Community Newspapers Association (ACNA) Better Newspapers Competition awards banquet in Halifax, N.S. on May 29.

The paper won awards in the Best National Editorial and Best Circulation Promotion categories.

"The Beacon continues to be amongst the top newspapers in Atlantic Canada and indeed the country," said Shawn Woodford, group publisher of NL Weekly Newspapers, including The Beacon. "The recent showing at the Atlantic Community Newspapers Association Better Newspapers Competition shows its success amongst its peers in the region. Congratulations to staff of The Beacon. We share this success with the loyal readership and advertising customers of the newspaper."

Manager/editor Kevin Higgins added The Beacon continues to be recognized amongst its peers not only in Atlantic Canada, but also across the country, because of high expectations.

"It's a great honour to be recognized by your peers, whether it be regionally or nationally," said Mr. Higgins, noting the community newspaper awards are voted on newspaper professionals across the country. "These five (Atlantic Canadian) awards show the strength The Beacon has in its overall package, and not in just one area of the newspaper.

"That's a credit to the entire staff. It's the effort and dedication they put into producing a top-quality publication that not only meets the high standard our readers and advertisers expect each week, but also brings annual accolades from our peers across the country."

The winning editorial, penned by Beacon sports editor Matt Molloy, examined the paranoia surrounding the H1N1 virus last fall, which caused the cancellation of community and sporting events across the country over fears of a possible pandemic.

His editorial beat out entries by David Kelly from the Kings County Record in Sussex, N.B., and Elizabeth MacDonald from The Beacon's sister publication, The Charte,r in Placentia.

In the circulation promotions category, Marilyn Puddicombe was honoured for her work on the carrier points program, which gave paper carriers points based on specific criteria relating to attracting new customers. Carriers could then redeem those point for prizes.

Ms. Puddicombe was chosen over entries made by The Weekly Press in Enfield, N.S., and The Eastern Graphic in Montague, P.E.I.

In other categories, The Beacon was a standing finalist in the General Excellence category (Class 2). The Bugle-Observer in Woodstock, N.B. won the category, with The Beacon's sister paper, The Packet, in Clarenville rounding out the standing finalists.

Andrew Robinson was one of three standing finalists in the Best News Story category for his piece last August on then health minister Paul Oram's supposed briefing notes.

Michael Gorman of the Yarmouth County Vanguard in Yarmouth, N.S. won the category, while fellow Vanguard writer Tina Comeau was the other standing finalist.

The Beacon's other nomination as a standing finalist came in the Best Special Section Category for its Festival of Flight supplement, which was a joint effort of the paper's sales and editorial staff.

The Kings County Register in Kentville N.S. won the category, while The Bridgewater Bulletin in Bridgewater, N.S. rounded out the standing finalists.

In March, The Beacon received awards at the Canadian Community Newspaper Association's 2009 Better Newspapers Competition.

Mr. Robinson was a third-place winner in the Best Rural Reporting category, and The Beacon's advertising department also received national praise, placing third overall in the Best Newspaper Promotion category for newspapers with a circulation of 4,000 to 12,499.