KAILUA-KONA — There’s nothing like being recognized by your peers.
West Hawaii Today took home five Pa’i Awards at the Hawaii Publishers Association’s 31st annual award luncheon Tuesday in Honolulu. The association is a nonprofit media organization that promotes the print publishing industry in Hawaii.
From following the dengue fever outbreak to artistic page design and exceptional sports photography and online reporting, the awards, as voted on by journalists on the mainland, represented a busy year covering news on the Big Island.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our team,” said Tom Hasslinger, West Hawaii Today editor. “What stands out the most is how nearly every aspect inside the editorial department was recognized: photography, design, as well as spot news, online and editorial series reporting. It speaks volumes about the depth of the newsroom.”
West Hawaii Today’s sister paper, the Tribune-Herald in Hilo, won six awards.
“We’re honored the judges recognized our efforts to provide a quality product to the community,” added David Bock, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald’s editor and publisher, who also oversees the West Hawaii Today news department. “I’m proud of our news team’s accomplishments.”
The awards:
Associate Editor Chelsea Jensen won first place for online reporting for “Into Guillermo,” a story written aboard a Hurricane Hunters C-130 aircraft revealing how the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron gathers data that assists Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecasters in narrowing the cone of uncertainty as storms approach the Hawaiian Islands.
“I like the mix of explanation and current news in this story, rather than it just being a feature about the forecast unit,” a judge wrote. “The photo gallery is a good step, as well as the rapid push to the web.”
Paginator Jeff Carter won second place in excellence in design for his “Pasta” creation. “I dare anybody to see this page in print and not stop to read it,” a judge summed it up. “Very appealing.”
Sports reporter/photographer Rick Winters won second place in sports photography for giving the judges a hearty laugh with his pic of an angler admiring his catch from below the massive fish.
“Good job being at the right place at the right time and for turning what could have been a cliché moment into a chuckle,” a judge wrote.
Reporter Bret Yager’s seemingly endless effort following dengue fever led to his second place award in editorial series writing.
“This series started out very straightforward, reporting on leaders’ calls for action. But the paper took it further to ask questions for the vulnerable,” the judge said. “Good work.”
Keeping with reporting, spot news, Jensen won second place for “Mauna Loa Waking,” which broke the news that the world’s largest active volcano show signs of unrest and delved into exactly what was happening below the volcano’s summit.
The Tribune-Herald won:
Second place, special section excellence, “Celebrate Hula,” a special section devoted to the Merrie Monarch Festival.
First place, excellence in cover design (newsprint), “Date Economics.”
First place, feature photography, “Hot! Hot! Hot!
Second place, investigative reporting, “Kenoi Outspent Aides.”
First place, enterprise reporting, “OHA Goes Silent.”
Second place, spot news photography, “Standoff!”