Nevada Press Association The best in Nevada journalism since 1924
General Excellence
1. Sparks Tribune
2. Mineral County Independent-News
3. Boulder City Review
Best Breaking News Reporting
1. David Jacobs, Tonopah Times-Bonanza
3 dead in Esmeralda crash on U.S. Highway 95
2. Max Lancaster, Boulder City Review
Man killed by NHP previously arrested in BC
3. Rose Lanigan, Lincoln County Record
Explosions rock small Lincoln County town
Best Feature Writing
1. Peggy Jones, Lovelock Review-Miner
Inmate-artist paints courtroom
Powerful and interesting.
2. Joey Crandall, Carson Valley Times
A Photographer’s Journey: ‘It’s About Finding Something Interesting In An Ordinary Place’
Artfully written.
3. David Jacobs, Tonopah Times-Bonanza
New look for family business in Tonopah/Family business rises from Christmas fire
Column was very good.
Best Nonstaff Story
1. Alexandra Rovacchi, Boulder City Review
Holocaust survivor shares his tale of horror
Best Business Spot News Story
1. David Jacobs, Tonopah Times-Bonanza
Solar project could create 3k jobs
Best Business Feature
1. Hali Bernstein Saylor, Boulder City Review
The Write Stuff
2. Joey Crandall, Carson Valley Times
On Burgers, Business & Horses
3. Heidi Bunch, Mineral County Independent-News
One year later, Hawthorne Business Owners Recall Tornado’s Destruction
Best Explanatory Journalism
1. David Jacobs, Tonopah Times-Bonanza
Hospital closure puts pressure on community
2. Joey Crandall, Carson Valley Times
Reach For the Sky: Douglas Grad Krysta Palmer Aims For 2020 Olympics
3. Joey Crandall, Carson Valley Times
Douglas County Navigating FEMA Emergency Funding Application Process While Preparing For Spring Flooding
Best News Feature Story
1. Max Lancaster, Boulder City Review
Dogged determination
2. Hali Bernstein Saylor, Boulder City Review
Railway on track to build new depot
3. Hali Bernstein Saylor, Boulder City Review
Bighorn sheep struggle to survive
Best Local Column
1. Hali Bernstein Saylor, Boulder City Review
These columns show the writer’s knowledge of the community, but also demonstrate why people should care about what’s going on around them.
2. David Jacobs, Tonopah Times-Bonanza
I enjoyed reading these slice-of-small-town-life stories and the enthusiasm with which they were reported.
Best Local Non-staff Column
1. Andrew Barbano, Sparks Tribune
This is how you spice up an editorial page — lively writing, strong opinions, telling anecdotes.
2. Thomas Mitchell, Ely Times
Solid, clear writing and approach to political issues as they affect the state.
Best Sports Spot News Story
1. Nathan Shoup, Sparks Tribune
Halftime lead slips in 4A title game
2. Nathan Shoup, Sparks Tribune
Cougs suffer crushing semifinal defeat
3. Eric Dahlberg, Mineral County Independent-News
Serpents win first state title since 1964
Best Sports Feature Writing
1. Nathan Shoup, Sparks Tribune
Behind the Dish
2. Nathan Shoup, Sparks Tribune
Reed grad not blinded by national spotlight at UConn
3. Heidi Bunch, Mineral County Independent-News
Looking back at the 1964 championship team
Best Sports Column
1. Nathan Shoup, Sparks Tribune
Shoup Shots: Jensen strikes history books
A worthy mix of storytelling, opinions and local insight, these columns were consistently excellent.
2. Joey Crandall, Carson Valley Times
West Of Fenway
I liked the combination of nostalgia and personal expression that inform life and sports.
Best Entertainment Writing
1. David Jacobs, Tonopah Times-Bonanza
Community choir brings live music to rural area
Best Editorial Writing
1. Thomas Mitchell, Ely Times
Best Editorial Page
1. Staff, Boulder City Review
Good stuff throughout these pages, all of it local and centered on the community, including being unafraid to take on the powers that be.
2. Sparks Tribune
I like the variety and liveliness of the content here, and there’s a lot to explore.
Best Overall Design
1. Staff, Boulder City Review
The top two newspapers here were so close in their designs, I would like to have called it a tie. Alas, I gave a slight edge to the Boulder City paper because of its ability — and space — to carry the design excellence to inside pages. Well done.
2. Jessica Beaudoin, Tonopah Times-Bonanza
Best Page One Design
1. Eric Dahlberg, Sparks Tribune
Sparks Tribune front page
2. Jessica Beaudoin, Tonopah Times-Bonanza
3. Staff, Boulder City Review
Best News Photo Coverage
1. Ron Harpin, Carson Valley Times
Military Appreciation Night
Everything about this photo is amazing. The framing, the flag position, the emotion, phenomenal. A wider lens and getting closer would make it look more dramatic, and could use an exposure bump.
2. John Bryne, Sparks Tribune
Truckee River overflows
We can feel the intensity of the cars trying to drive. Getting a little closer would make it easier for us to see the drivers to give us a better human connection, as well as make it feel like the entire road is flooded.
3. David Jacobs, Tonopah Times-Bonanza
Couple escapes motor home fire in rural Nye.
Excellent composition and colors, but I would’ve liked to see it while it was still on fire or the smoke more extinguished, hard to see the people in the back; presuming you were sooner, of course.
Best Feature Photo
1. David Jacobs, Tonopah Times-Bonanza
Golfers take on cow pasture
2. John Byrne, Sparks Tribune
Sparks Santas
Best Multiple Photo Essay
1. John Byrne, Sparks Tribune
Remembering our Heroes
A POV from all perspectives while still being respectful. Well done.
2. John Byrne, Sparks Tribune
Hot August Nights
Great variety of cars from many angles.
3. Donald Abbott, Sparks Tribune
Sparks Farmers Market Faces
Like the composition, colors, and lighting, but I want to see more people being together. Makes it feel like there aren’t many people there.
Best Sports Photo
1. John Byrne, Sparks Tribune
Emotional Defeat
The best sports shots for the playoffs are not of the game. They are the reactions. A very emotional picture.
2. Laura Hubel, Boulder City Review
Good catch
Cropped and noisy but great timing and glad we see most of his face.
3. Ron Harpin, Carson Valley Times
Field Goal Block
I almost gave this one second place but didn’t for several reasons: I only know it’s a block because of the title. A few moments after where he actually blocks it would’ve been better. I had trouble finding the ball at first. Composition and lighting is fine, but no eyes from anyone.
Best Special Section (Editorial)
1. Joyce Sheen, Debra Reid, Peggy Jones, Cheryl Upshaw, Samantha Stine, Michelle Cook, Battle Mountain Bugle
Mining Fall 2016
This is good work all around. The articles are well written and the entire section is well thought out. I especially like the transparency in the use of industry work.
2. Nathan Shoup, Eric Dahlberg, Sparks Tribune
Football
This kind of work takes commitment to the community and to the youth of the community. There’s not much advertising to support it, but the Tribune still gave a thorough preview of the season, both boys and girls. Well done.
3. Ben Rowley, Rydan Bandis, Lincoln County Record
LC Mag Off-Roading
Good local content. Some stories have multiple sourcing, which is good, but the lack of bylines on some stories leaves readers to wonder where the content came from.
Best Print Ad
1. Christine Bryner, Manuel Berroa, Sparks Tribune
Reno’s scariest haunted house
Great design and use of colors. Simple, easy to read, not too distracting. Effectively conveys the emotion of what the ad is for.
2. Heather Ruth, Tonopah Times-Bonanza
Mizpah Hotel
Nice design. I would like to see a better image to convey the fine dining experience. Food is much more powerful than dishes. There is almost too much info to read.
3. Teresa Stewart, Ely Times
White Pine County Fair
Nice design and overlay on the wood-plank background. The fonts are a little distracting – too much variety and they don’t all go together. Specifically the County Fair text is so different than the rest.
Overall, with the exception of the first place entry, none were particular stand-outs when it comes to design. I also wonder about the use of Superman and licensing/copyright issues.The Chamber page in the Ely Times was an interes ting concept, but the design itself was not very attractive.
Best Black & White Ad
1. Joe Plummer, Battle Mountain Bugle
Zombie Run
2. Heather Ruth, Tonopah Times-Bonanza
Tonopah Rotary Club
3. Heather Ruth, Tonopah Times-Bonanza
Kingston Health Center
Best Ad Series
1. Manuel Berroa, Sparks Tribune
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
2. Nathan Shoup, Manuel Berroa, Sparks Tribune
Athlete of the Week
Best Special Section or Campaign (Advertising)
1. Staff, Mesquite Local News
Holiday Greetings
2. Staff, Mesquite Local News
Rising Star
3. Shari Gilson, Teresa Stewart, Ely Times
Fourth of July
Best-In House Promotion
1. Emily Swindle, Battle Mountain Bugle
Inside Northern Nevada house ad
Best Web Site
1. Carson Valley Times
carsonvalleytimes.com
Best Platform Writing
1. Staff, NevadaGram
Nevada Correspondence
2. David Toll, NevadaGram
Comstock Mining Updates
Digital Innovation
1. David Jacobs, Tonopah Times-Bonanza
Getting news out without a website
The entry notes that, without a web site, the paper aggressively pushed breaking news on Facebook, with good response. That’s called working with what you’ve got.