WELLINGTON COUNTY – The Wellington Advertiser has been named one of the top three community newspapers in Ontario in its circulation class for the fourth straight year.
On Feb. 14 the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA) announced the finalists for its 2022 Better Newspaper Competition (BNC).
Organized annually by the OCNA, the competition recognizes the work of community newspapers throughout the province.
The Advertiser was nominated in the general excellence category (circulation over 22,500) along with the Barrie Advance and Niagara This Week.
The Advertiser, which won the general excellence award the previous three years, was also named a finalist in the following premier award categories:
- best feature writing (circulation over 10,000 category) for an article by reporter Jordan Snobelen about county resident Dale Wideman’s experience after being taken as a hostage in Haiti along with 16 other missionaries from North America;
- best news story (circulation over 10,000) for Snobelen’s article about the “Freedom Convoy” passing through Wellington County on its way to Ottawa;
- best rural story (circulation over 10,000) for an article by Snobelen about the effects of increased fertilizer prices on the market;
- best special section (circulation over 10,000) for a pull-out feature on Arthur’s 150th anniversary celebration;
- best creative ad for an Arthur 150th “Sidewalk Saturdays” advertisement designed by Alicia Roza; and
- best use of colour in an ad for Buckenham Fireplaces and Grills ad by Steve Gilholm.
The Advertiser’s sister publication, the North Wellington Community News, which covers Wellington North, Minto and Mapleton, was nominated for the following premier award categories:
- best editorial (circulation over 10,000 category) for an editorial titled “Media bashing way off the rails” by reporter Patrick Raftis;
- best local retail layout for a Young’s Home Hardware ad designed by Roza; and
- best use of colour in an ad for a Red Express Market ad, also by Roza.
The complete list of finalists can be found at ocna.org/2022-bnc-award-finalists-announced.
The winners will be announced during a virtual presentation this spring.
