By New Mexico Press Association
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Press Association recognized the best of New Mexico’s newspaper writing, photography and advertising at the Better Newspaper Contest Banquet on Saturday.
The organization handed out awards to newspapers in four divisions: Weekly 2 – for weekly newspapers with a circulation below 4,999; Weekly 1 – for weekly newspapers with a circulation above 5,000; Daily 2 – for daily newspapers with a circulation below 7,499; and Daily 1 – for newspapers with a circulation above 7,500.
A newspaper from each division is awarded for General Excellence. This year’s winners are: Santa Fe New Mexican, Daily I; Roswell Daily Record, Daily 2; Taos News, Weekly I; and El Defensor Chieftain in Socorro, Weekly 2.
The contest was judged by the Utah Press Association.
Political Cartoons
The awards were handed out at the NMPA 112th Annual Convention.
Weekly – Best Rate Card or Marketing Kit
2nd Place – Karin Eberhardt – Taos News
1st Place – Karin Eberhardt – Taos News
Daily – Best Rate Card or Marketing Kit
2nd Place – Justin Bixler, Veronica Rigales – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Wanda Moeller, Wayne Barnard and Steve Gall – Albuquerque Journal
Weekly Class 2 – Retail Advertising Black and White
2nd Place – Maria Sanchez – Las Vegas Optic
1st Place – Maria Sanchez – Las Vegas Optic
Weekly Class 1 – Retail Advertising Black and White
2nd Place – N/A – N/A
1st Place – Emily Lee – Taos News
Daily Class 2 – Retail Advertising Black and White
2nd Place – Sandra Martinez – Roswell Daily Record
1st Place – Aric Loomis – Roswell Daily Record
Daily Class 1 – Retail Advertising Black and White
2nd Place – Sarai Cajiao – Albuquerque Journal
1st Place – Nancy Chavez – Albuquerque Journal
Weekly Class 2 – Retail Advertising Color
2nd Place – Andrea Ramos – Eastern New Mexico News
1st Place –The Independent Ad Team – The Independent Edgewood
Weekly Class 1 – Retail Advertising Color
2nd Place – Paul Gutches – The Taos News
1st Place – Cindy Boivert – The Taos News
Daily Class 2 – Retail Advertising Color
2nd Place – Aric Loomis – Roswell Daily Record
1st Place – Alaena Hernandez – Silver City Daily Press
Daily Class 1 – Retail Advertising Color
2nd Place –Sarai Cajiao – Albuquerque Journal
1st Place – Nancy Chavez – Albuquerque Journal
Weekly Class 2 – Obituary Page
2nd Place – Leota Harriman – The Independent Edgewood
1st Place – Denise Ortega, Caitie Ihrig – El Defensor Chieftain
Weekly Class 1 – Obituary Page
2nd Place – Valencia County News-Bulletin – Valencia County News-Bulletin
1st Place – Mary Chavez and Gabrielle Sanchez – The Taos News
Daily Class 2 – Obituary Page
2nd Place – The Farmington Daily Times Staff – The Farmington Daily Times
1st Place – Dave Sterling – Roswell Daily Record
Daily Class 1 – Obituary Page
2nd Place – Shaundel Moya and Design Team – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Justin Bixler – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – Classified Advertising Section
2nd Place – Leota Harriman – The Independent Edgewood
1st Place – Denise Ortega, Stephanie McFadden – El Defensor Chieftain
Weekly Class 1 – Classified Advertising Section
2nd Place – Mayra Aldaz – Rio Grande Sun
1st Place – Mary Chavez & Gabrielle Sanchez – The Taos News
Daily Class 2 – Classified Advertising Section
2nd Place – Roswell Daily Record Staff – Roswell Daily Record
1st Place – The Farmington Daily Times Staff – The Farmington Daily Times
Daily Class 1 – Classified Advertising Section
2nd Place – Wayne Barnard, Lois Trujillo and the Classified Team – Albuquerque Journal
1st Place – Classified Team – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Division – Advertising Campaign – Print
2nd Place – Staff – Las Cruces Bulletin
1st Place – Staff – Taos News
Daily Division – Advertising Campaign – Print
2nd Place – Justin Bixler and Henry M. Lopez – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Douglas Brown – Albuquerque Journal
Weekly Division – Advertising Campaign – Digital
1st Place – Paul Gutches – Taos News
Daily Division – Advertising Campaign – Digital
2nd Place – Aric Loomis – Roswell Daily Record
1st Place – Henry M. Lopez and Lisa Vakharia – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – House Advertisement
2nd Place – Andrea Ramos – Eastern New Mexico News
1st Place – Maria Sanchez – Las Vegas Optic
Weekly Class 1 – House Advertisement
2nd Place – Staff – Taos News
1st Place – Shane Atkinson – Taos News
Daily Class 2 – House Advertisement
2nd Place – Roswell Daily Record Staff – Roswell Daily Record
1st Place – Aric Loomis – Roswell Daily Record
Daily Class 1 – House Advertisement
2nd Place – Cecile Johnson – Gallup Independent
1st Place – Justin Bixler, Veronica Rigales – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – Shared/Signature Page
2nd Place – Stephanie McFadden – El Defensor Chieftain
1st Place – Stephanie McFadden – El Defensor Chieftain
Weekly Class 1 – Shared/Signature Page
2nd Place – Cindy Boivert – Taos News
1st Place – Cindy Boivert – Taos News
Daily Class 2 – Shared/Signature Page
2nd Place – Roswell Daily Record Staff – Roswell Daily Record
1st Place – Roswell Daily Record Staff – Roswell Daily Record
Daily Class 1 – Shared/Signature Page
2nd Place – Charity Valdez – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Classified Department – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – Supplements or Special Sections
2nd Place – Staff – Eastern New Mexico News
1st Place – Staff – Eastern New Mexico News
Weekly Class 1 – Supplements or Special Sections
2nd Place – Bulletin Staff – Las Cruces Bulletin
1st Place – Virginia Clark, Karin Eberhardt, Morgan Timms – Taos News
Daily Class 2 – Supplements or Special Sections
2nd Place – News-Sun Staff – Hobbs News Sun
1st Place – Kendra Milligan, Alaena Hernandez, Tauna Gallagher – Silver City Daily Press
Daily Class 1 – Supplements or Special Sections
2nd Place – Journal Staff – Albuquerque Journal
1st Place – Deborah Villa – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Division – Web Advertisement
1st Place – Paul Gutches – Taos News
Daily Division – Web Advertisement
2nd Place – Henry M. Lopez & Trina Thomas – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Aric Loomis – Roswell Daily Record
Weekly Division – Best Breaking News – Digital
2nd Place – Nicole Maxwell – Ruidoso News
1st Place – Clara Garcia– Valencia County News-Bulletin
Daily Division – Best Breaking News – Digital
2nd Place – Las Cruces Sun-News Staff– Las Cruces Sun-News
1st Place – Matthew Reisen, Adolphe Pierre-Louis, Martin Salazar, Robert Browman – Albuquerque Journal
Weekly Division – Best Website
2nd Place – Beth Blakeman – Gallup Sun
1st Place – Paul Gutches – Taos News
Daily Division – Best Website
2nd Place – Donn Friedman, Robert Browman, Martin Salazar, Katy Barnitz – Albuquerque Journal
1st Place – Online Staff – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Division – Headline Writing
2nd Place – Beth Blakeman – Gallup Sun
1st Place – Michael Tashji – Taos News
Daily Division – Headline Writing
2nd Place – Richard Reyes– Gallup Independent
1st Place – Zach Taylor – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Division – Review
2nd Place – Glenn Kay – Gallup Sun
1st Place – Hevyn Heckes – New Mexico Daily Lobo
Daily Division – Review
2nd Place – Jennifer Levin – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola – Gallup Independent
Weekly Class 2 – Obituary News
2nd Place – David Stevens – Eastern New Mexico News
1st Place – Leota Harriman – The Independent Edgewood
Weekly Class 1 – Obituary News
2nd Place – Rick Romancito – Taos News
1st Place – Gary Herron – Rio Rancho Observer
Daily Class 2 – Obituary News
2nd Place – Makayla Grijalva – Silver City Daily Press
1st Place – Mike Smith – Carlsbad Current Argus
Daily Class 1 – Obituary News
2nd Place – Geoff Grammer – Albuquerque Journal
1st Place – Daniel J. Chacon – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – Sports Columns
2nd Place – Gabriel Myers – Las Vegas Optic
1st Place – Billy Armendariz – Deming Headlight
Weekly Class 1 – Sports Columns
2nd Place – Richard Coltharp – Las Cruces Bulletin
1st Place – Gary Herron – Rio Rancho Observer
Daily Class 2 – Sports Columns
2nd Place – Jason Farmer – Hobbs News Sun
1st Place – Jason Farmer – Hobbs News Sun
Daily Class 1 – Sports Columns
2nd Place – Phill Casaus – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Will Webber – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 1 – Education Writing
2nd Place – Cody Begaye – Gallup Sun
1st Place – Cody Begaye – Gallup Sun
Daily Class 2 – Education Writing
2nd Place – Hannah Dumas – Silver City Daily Press
1st Place – Blake Ovard – Hobbs News Sun
Daily Class 1 – Education Writing
2nd Place – Robert Nott – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Shaun Griswold, Trip Jennings – New Mexico in Depth
Weekly Class 2 – Environmental and Agricultural Writing
2nd Place – Tamara Bicknell-Lombardi – The Independent Edgewood
1st Place – Cathy Cook – El Defensor Chieftain
Weekly Class 1 – Environmental and Agricultural Writing
2nd Place – Madeline Pukite – New Mexico Daily Lobo
1st Place – Rick Romancito – Taos News
Daily Class 2 – Environmental and Agricultural Writing
2nd Place – Geoffrey Plant – Silver City Daily Press
1st Place – Adrian Hedden, Thomas Zambito – Carlsbad Current Argus
Daily Class 1 – Environmental and Agricultural Writing
2nd Place – Kathy Helms – Gallup Independent
1st Place – Theresa Davis – Albuquerque Journal
Weekly Class 2 – Business Writing
2nd Place –Bill Armendariz – Deming Headlight
1st Place – Caitie Ihrig – El Defensor Chieftain
Weekly Class 1 – Business Writing
2nd Place – Taylor Hood – Taos News
1st Place – Michael Tashji – Taos News
Daily Class 2 – Business Writing
2nd Place – Adrian Hedden, Thomas Zambito – Carlsbad Current Argus
1st Place – Adrian Hedden, Ed Williams – Carlsbad Current Argus
Daily Class 1 – Business Writing
2nd Place – Mark Tiarks – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Teya Vitu – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – Editorials
2nd Place – Leota Harriman – The Independent Edgewood
1st Place – Phil Scherer – Las Vegas Optic
Weekly Class 1 – Editorials
2nd Place – Amy Byres, Argen Marie Duncan – Rio Rancho Observer
1st Place – Argen Marie Duncan – Rio Rancho Observer
Daily Class 2 – Editorials
2nd Place – Jessica Onsurez – Carlsbad Current Argus
1st Place – John R. Moses – Farmington Daily Times
Daily Class 1 – Editorials
2nd Place – Jeff Tucker – Albuquerque Journal
1st Place – Inez Russell Gomez – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – Columns
2nd Place – Caitie Ihrig – El Defensor Chieftain
1st Place – David Stevens – Eastern New Mexico News
Weekly Class 1 – Columns
2nd Place – Julia M. Dendinger – Valencia County News-Bulletin
1st Place – Richard Coltharp – Las Cruces Bulletin
Daily Class 2 – Columns
2nd Place – Todd Bailey – Hobbs News Sun
1st Place – Blake Ovard – Hobbs News Sun
Daily Class 1 – Columns
2nd Place – Joline Gutierrez Krueger – Albuquerque Journal
1st Place – Milan Simonich – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – General News Photo
2nd Place – Tamara Bicknell-Lombardi – The Independent Edgewood
1st Place – Tamara Bicknell-Lombardi – The Independent Edgewood
Weekly Class 1 –General News Photo
2nd Place – Morgan Timms – Taos News
1st Place – Clara Garcia – Valencia County News-Bulletin
Daily Class 2 –General News Photo
2nd Place – Geoffrey Plant – Silver City Daily Press
1st Place – Andy Brosig – Hobbs News Sun
Daily Class 1 –General News Photo
2nd Place – Luis Sánchez Saturno – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Nathan J. Fish – Las Cruces Sun-News
Weekly Class 2 – Sports Photo
2nd Place – Ger Demarest – The Independent Edgewood
1st Place – Ger Demarest – The Independent Edgewood
Weekly Class 1 – Sports Photo
2nd Place – Gary Herron – Rio Rancho Observer
1st Place – Morgan Timms – Taos News
Daily Class 2 – Sports Photo
2nd Place – Andy Brosig – Hobbs News Sun
1st Place – Andy Brosig – Hobbs News Sun
Daily Class 1 – Sports Photo
2nd Place – Jim Weber – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Jim Weber – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – Feature Photo
2nd Place – Tamara Bicknell-Lombardi – The Independent Edgewood
1st Place – Tamara Bicknell-Lombardi – The Independent Edgewood
Weekly Class 1 – Feature Photo
2nd Place – Morgan Timms – Taos News
1st Place – Robert Eckert – Rio Grande Sun
Daily Class 2 – Feature Photo
2nd Place – Blake Ovard – Hobbs News Sun
1st Place – Andy Brosig – Hobbs News Sun
Daily Class 1 – Feature Photo
2nd Place – Jim Weber – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Adolphe Pierre-Louis – Albuquerque Journal
(No Weekly Class 2 – Photo Series)
Weekly Class 1 – Photo Series
2nd Place – Robert Eckert – Rio Grande SUN
1st Place – Morgan Timms – Taos News
Daily Class 2 – Photo Series
2nd Place – Kendra Milligan – Silver City Daily Press
1st Place – Stephen Dumas – Silver City Daily Press
Daily Class 1 – Photo Series
2nd Place – Jim Weber – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Gabriela Campos – Santa Fe New Mexican
(No Weekly Class 2 – Online Photo Gallery)
Weekly Class 1 – Online Photo Gallery
2nd Place – Liberty Stalnaker – New Mexico Daily Lobo
1st Place – Morgan Timms – Taos News
Daily Class 2 – Online Photo Gallery
2nd Place – Staff -Farmington Daily Times
1st Place – Geoffrey Plant – Silver City Daily Press
Daily Class 1 – Online Photo Gallery
2nd Place – Jim Weber – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Gabriela Campos – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – Sports Writing
2nd Place – Gabriel Myers – Las Vegas Optic
1st Place – Ger Demarest – The Independent Edgewood
Weekly Class 1 – Sports Writing
2nd Place – Gary Herron – Rio Rancho Observer
1st Place – Joe Rull – New Mexico Daily Lobo
Daily Class 2 – Sports Writing
2nd Place – Matt Hollinshead – Farmington Daily Times
1st Place – Hannah Dumas – Silver City Daily Press
Daily Class 1 – Sports Writing
2nd Place – Will Webber – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – James Barron – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – News Writing
2nd Place – John Larson – El Defensor Chieftain
1st Place – Phil Scherer – Las Vegas Optic
Weekly Class 1 – News Writing
2nd Place – Molly Adamson – Gallup Sun
1st Place – Gabriel Biadora, Shelby Kleinhans – New Mexico Daily Lobo
Daily Class 2 – News Writing
2nd Place – Geoffrey Plant – Silver City Daily Press
1st Place – Alex Ross – Roswell Daily Record
Daily Class 1 – News Writing
2nd Place – Dillon Mullan – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Robert Nott – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – Breaking News
1st Place – Leota Harriman, Tamara Bicknell-Lombardi, Felecia Pohl – The Independent Edgewood
Weekly Class 1 – Breaking News
1st Place – Elva K. Österreich – Las Cruces Bulletin
Daily Class 2 – Breaking News
2nd Place – Jessica Onsurez, Mike Smith – Carlsbad Current Argus
1st Place – Hannah Grover – Farmington Daily Times
Daily Class 1 – Breaking News
2nd Place – Victoria Traxler – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Matthew Reisen – Albuquerque Journal
Weekly Class 2 – Feature Writing
2nd Place – Cathy Cook – El Defensor Chieftain
1st Place – Cathy Cook – El Defensor Chieftain
Weekly Class 1 – Feature Writing
2nd Place – Morgan Timms – Taos News
1st Place – John Miller – Taos News
Daily Class 2 – Feature Writing
2nd Place – Geoffrey Plant – Silver City Daily Press
1st Place – Mike Easterling – Farmington Daily Times
Daily Class 1 – Feature Writing
2nd Place – Jens Gould – Santa Fe New Mexican
1st Place – Michael Abatemarco – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – Best Series
1st Place – Diego Lopez – Cibola Citizen
Weekly Class 1 – Best Series
2nd Place – Amy Byres – Rio Rancho Observer
1st Place – Dee Velasco – Gallup Sun
Daily Class 2 – Best Series
2nd Place – News Sun Staff – Hobbs News Sun
1st Place – Hannah Grover, Mike Easterling – Farmington Daily Times
Daily Class 1 – Best Series
2nd Place – Ollie Reed Jr. – Albuquerque Journal
1st Place – Elise Kaplan, Matthew Reisen, Dan Boyd, Ryan Boetel – Albuquerque Journal
Weekly Class 2 – Best Ongoing/Continuing Coverage
2nd Place – Leota Harriman, Sara Werth – The Independent Edgewood
1st Place – Ryan Lowery – Las Vegas Optic
Weekly Class 1 – Best Ongoing/Continuing Coverage
2nd Place – Makayla Grijalva – Valencia County News-Bulletin
1st Place – Argen Marie Duncan – Rio Rancho Observer
Daily Class 2 – Best Ongoing/Continuing Coverage
2nd Place – Noel Lyn Smith, Joshua Kellogg, Hannah Grover – Farmington Daily Times
1st Place – Nicole Maxwell – Alamogordo Daily News
Daily Class 1 – Best Ongoing/Continuing Coverage
2nd Place – Matthew Reisen and Elise Kaplan – Albuquerque Journal
1st Place – Victoria Traxler, Sam Gilbert – Santa Fe New Mexican
(No Weekly Class 2 – Investigative Reporting)
Weekly Class 1 – Investigative Reporting
2nd Place – Beth Blakeman – Gallup Sun
1st Place – Will Hooper – Taos News
Daily Class 2 – Investigative Reporting
2nd Place – Christina Rankin, Gabrielle Arsiaga – Hobbs News Sun
1st Place – Adrian Hedden – Alamogordo Daily News
Daily Class 1 – Investigative Reporting
2nd Place – Bryant Furlow – New Mexico in Depth
1st Place – Elise Kaplan and Matthew Reisen – Albuquerque Journal
Weekly Class 2 – Design and Topography
1st Place –Las Vegas Optic Staff
Weekly Class 1 – Design and Topography
2nd Place – Bulletin Staff – Las Cruces Bulletin
1st Place – Karin Eberhardt – Taos News
Daily Class 2 – Design and Topography
2nd Place – Toby Martinez – Roswell Daily Record
1st Place – Farmington Daily Times Staff – Farmington Daily Times
Daily Class 1 – Design and Topography
2nd Place – Las Cruces Sun-News Staff – Las Cruces Sun-News
1st Place – Design team, Santa Fe New Mexican – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – Best Sports Coverage
1st Place – Ger Demarest – The Independent Edgewood
Weekly Class 1 – Best Sports Coverage
2nd Place – Cameron Goeldner – Valencia County News-Bulletin
1st Place – Gary Herron – Rio Rancho Observer
Daily Class 2 – Best Sports Coverage
2nd Place – Jason Farmer, Peter Stein – Hobbs News Sun
1st Place – Roswell Daily Record Staff – Roswell Daily Record
Daily Class 1 – Best Sports Coverage
2nd Place – Journal Sports Staff – Albuquerque Journal
1st Place – Will Webber, James Barron – Santa Fe New Mexican
(No Weekly Class 2 – News Coverage)
Weekly Class 1 – News Coverage
2nd Place – Makayla Grijalva – Valencia County News-Bulletin
1st Place – Julia M. Dendinger – Valencia County News Bulletin
Daily Class 2 – News Coverage
2nd Place – Farmington Daily Times Staff – Farmington Daily Times
1st Place – Roswell Daily Record Staff – Roswell Daily Record
Daily Class 1 – News Coverage
2nd Place – Albuquerque Journal Staff – Albuquerque Journal
1st Place – Santa Fe New Mexican Newsroom – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Division – Public Service
1st Place – Taos News Staff– Taos News
Daily Division – Public Service
2nd Place – Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola – Gallup Independent
1st Place – Albuquerque Journal Staff – Albuquerque Journal
Weekly Division – Sunshine Award
2nd Place – Will Hooper and Taylor Hood – Taos News
1st Place – Phil Scherer, Maria Sanchez and Ryan Lowery – Las Vegas Optic
Daily Division – Sunshine Award
2nd Place – Albuquerque Journal Staff – Albuquerque Journal
1st Place – Robert Nott, Phill Casaus, Victoria Traxler – Santa Fe New Mexican
Weekly Class 2 – General Excellence
El Defensor Chieftain Staff – El Defensor Chieftain
Weekly Class 1 – General Excellence
The Taos News Staff – Taos News
Daily Class 2 – General Excellence
Roswell Daily Record Staff – Roswell Daily Record
Daily Class 1 – General Excellence
Santa Fe New Mexican Staff – Santa Fe New Mexican
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