The Flathead Beacon was named the best large weekly newspaper in the state at the Montana Newspaper Association annual convention and awards ceremony in Lewistown.
The Beacon won a total of 42 awards, including 17 first-place plaques, on Saturday night in the Better Newspaper Contest.
The Beacon earned the top prize for general excellence in its division. Flathead Living magazine was named the best niche publication in the state.
The Billing Gazette won the Sam Gilluly Award for best daily newspaper in Montana, and the Big Timber Pioneer won the Thomas Dimsdale Award for best weekly newspaper. Larry Mayer of the Billings Gazette won the Mel Ruder Photograph of the Year Award.
The 133rd annual MNA convention will be in Billings next year.
First Place
General Excellence
Best Niche Publication — Flathead Living
Best News Story — Dillon Tabish, “Fighting Fire with Fire”
Best Breaking News Story — Justin Franz, “Jury Convicts Kalispell Man of Meth-Fueled Murder”
Best Sports Story — Dillon Tabish, “The Golden Age”
Best Feature Story — Tristan Scott, “Pioneering the Road to the Sun”
Best Sports Feature Story — Dillon Tabish, “The Spirit of Six-Man”
Best Lifestyle Coverage — Tristan Scott, “Defenders of Dogs”
Best Education Coverage — Dillon Tabish, “An Alternate Path”
Mark Henckel Outdoor Writing Award — Dillon Tabish, “The Complicated Quest to Save the Grizzly”
Best Sports Column Writing — Rob Breeding, “Another Fight, Another Win for Access”
Best Sports Page Layout and Design — Steve Larson
Best Combination Print and Online Ad — Sharilyn Fairweather
Best Image Building Ad (Color) — Dwayne Harris
Best Ad Sell or Promote Services (Color) — Dwayne Harris
Best Video — Greg Lindstrom, “Down to Earth Parkour”
Best Use of Social Media — Dillon Tabish and Greg Lindstrom, “Behold the Bypass”
Second Place
Best Niche Publication — Flathead Living
Best News Story — Tristan Scott, “The Superfund Solution”
Best Lifestyle Coverage — Justin Franz, “The Toy Makers”
Best Education Coverage — Dillon Tabish, “50 Years of FVCC”
Best Enterprise Journalism — Justin Franz, “Decade After Epidemic, Meth Surges Again”
Best Sports Page Layout and Design — Steve Larson and Greg Lindstrom
Best Sports Photo — Greg Lindstrom, “Brash Rodeo”
Best Combination Print and Online Ad – Dwayne Harris
Best Image Building Ad (Color) — Steve Larson
Best Newspaper Promotional Ad — Sharilyn Fairweather
Best Video — Greg Lindstrom, “Perfect Cuts”
Best Newspaper Special Section — Beacon Staff, “Picnic in the Park”
Third Place
Best Niche Publication — Glacier Journal
Best Breaking News Story — Dillon Tabish and Justin Franz, “West Glacier Cyclist Killed by Bear”
Best Feature Story — Dillon Tabish, “Aluminum Plant Fading Away One Piece at a Time, Leaving Unresolved Legacy”
Best Education Coverage — Molly Priddy, “Homeless in High School”
Best Continuing Coverage — Tristan Scott, Dillon Tabish, Molly Priddy and Greg Lindstrom, “Creston Water Bottling Plant”
Mark Henckel Outdoor Writing Award — Justin Franz, “Preserving America’s Best Idea”
Best Headline Writing — Tristan Scott
Best News Photo — Greg Lindstrom, “West Glacier Officer Remembered as Devoted Colleague, Beloved Family Man”
Best Lifestyles Photo — Greg Lindstrom, “Whitefish Mountain Resort Pond Skim”
Best Combination Print and Online Ad – Dwayne Harris
Best Image Building Ad (Color) — Sharilyn Fairweather
Best Overall Website
Best Video — Greg Lindstrom, “Golden Gus”