Sister Paper Machias Valley News Observer Wins 12

The Maine Press Association’s annual state conference, hosted at the Double Tree Hotel in Portland on October 14, turned into a night of triumph for The Calais Advertiser and its sibling publication Machias Valley News Observer.  The prestigious event saw The Calais Advertiser clinch a staggering 18 awards, while Machias Valley News Observer garnered 12 accolades, culminating in an impressive 30 awards collectively for Washington County’s only two weekly publications.

Pierre Little, publisher of the papers, expressed his delight at the recognition from the Maine Press Association, emphasizing the pride he feels for the dedication and hard work by the publications’ editorial teams.  The significance of this recognition was underscored by Little himself, who clinched a third-place award in the Editorial category for his article titled “Preventing Derailment: Conquering Rancor by Building Unity.”  This piece stemmed from a cloud of negativity shrouding the local food pantry last winter, prompting the publisher to remind readers, in part, “We must come together in support of the food pantry, setting aside any personal grievances or hurt feelings. Let us prioritize forgiveness and unity as we work towards a common goal of helping those in need. It is possible with humility embraced by all.”

The Calais Advertiser, boasting a rich history as Calais’ oldest business, went on to receive top honors for its outstanding sports section, secured second place in the Special Sections category for its comprehensive preview of the International Homecoming Festival, and claimed the third spot in the Young Reader Engagement category for its annual Downeast Basketball Review.  Even more, it claimed second for General Excellence in Advertising and third in General Excellence in Print.

Jayna Smith showcased her skills in both photography and editorial.  Smith’s talents shone as she secured the coveted Best Sports Photo award.  Last year, she placed second in the category, while nabbing the top spot once before in 2021.  This year’s winning photo captured the moment Calais High School’s Jace Cook achieved his 1,000th career point during a thrilling basketball game last February.

Smith’s photography skills extended further, as she clinched the first-place awards in both the Spot News Photo and People Photo categories, in addition to an impressive third place in the Feature Photo category.

Adding to the multimedia dimension to her accomplishments, Smith’s “Blue Devil Nation” video, chronicling the Blue Devils basketball team’s pursuit of glory in the tournaments last season, secured a commendable second place in the Sports Video Category and a third place for Best Digital Ad Campaign.

The judges were impressed also with the writings of The Calais Advertiser, indicative of the top position in the Environmental Story category being awarded to Smith, who also grabbed the second-place finish in the Arts – Lifestyle Feature category for her article on the local race car driver Bobby O’Brien, making a his return to the track.

Additionally, the publication’s graphic designer Cheryl Stabinski received recognition with a first place and a third place in the Specialty Page Designs category, showcasing her talent in the realm of visual communication.

The accolades weren’t limited to the core team, as freelancer Ricky Cleghorn, a University of Maine student and Woodland High School alumni, made a significant impact by earning first place in the analysis category for his insightful article on the escalating oil prices.  

Little explained the importance of the paper to the community, a business in the city since 1836, as well as the importance the area businesses are to the paper.  “The Calais Advertiser and its editorial newsroom is so vital to our community’s health and economic growth,” he said, adding, “I want to thank our business community, our advertisers, for their continued support.  Without businesses advertising and using the services of the Advertiser, we could not have covered so many important stories and have won so many awards this year.  To have reporters being paid to focus on our part of the world beats social media hands down, and it means we are serious about our community’s vibrancy and its flourishing.” 

Little also praised the continued efforts of his staff.  “These awards are not won without teamwork and the dedication to the stories of our wonderful community in eastern Maine.  I congratulate all the reporters of the Advertiser for a job well done, along with our designers and of course, most esteemed Kathy Devine, administrative assistance, and last and most importantly, my wife Wendy, who kept us focused on our financial realities.”