The best journalism in the state – from photography and editorials to magazines and broadcast news – was recognized by the New Hampshire Press Association after a four-year hiatus.
Monitor reporter Leah Willingham won first-place awards in health reporting for her “Stolen Memories” series and in general news for her series on teen suicide prevention called “Finding Hope.” The Stolen Memories series featured families dealing with a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Monitor multimedia editor Geoff Forester won Photographer of Year in the daily newspaper category and Ben Conant from the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript won the same award in the non-daily category.
The Monitor won a community service award for hosting a public forum at Concord High School focusing on suicide prevention to coincide with the conclusion of the Finding Hope series.
The Nashua Telegraph took in the most total awards with 24, including seven first place prizes. Longtime reporter and columnist Dean Shalhoup won one of four lifetime achievement awards given out on Wednesday night.
The Valley News of West Lebanon took in 19 awards, including seven first place prizes. Columnist Jim Kenyon won Columnist of the Year, an honor he shared with Mark Hayward of the New Hampshire Union Leader.
The Ledger-Transcript received 19 awards, including 10 first place prizes.
The Union Leader took in 16 awards, including six first place prizes. Reporter Shawne Wickham received the Journalist of the Year award and Publisher Joe McQuaid received a lifetime achievement award.
Foster’s Daily Democrat received seven awards, including five first place finishes.
The New Boston, a weekly newspaper, received 14 awards, including six first place honors.
Business New Hampshire Magazine took in 18 awards, including nine for first place and was awarded General Excellence for a magazine.
New Hampshire Public Radio took in seven awards, including four first place finishes. The statewide news organization received an award for General Excellence for radio and its digital presence.
The Conway Daily Sun received eight awards, including two first place finishes. It won General Excellence in the daily newspaper category.
The Laconia Daily Sun recieved two awards, including the Dennis Joos special award for community impact for editor Roger Carroll’s first person account of his treatment in the state’s mental health system.
WMUR journalist John DiStaso, who has reported in the state since 1979, received one of the four lifetime achievement awards.
In Depth New Hampshire, an online non-profit news organization received eight awards, and seven were awarded first place. Founder Nancy West received one of the lifetime achievement awards and the news site received a General Excellence Award for its digital presence.
New Hampshire Business Review took in five awards, three for first place and was awarded General Excellence for a non-daily newspaper.
The New Hampshire Press Association and its awards were reorganized under the leadership of Executive Director Phil Kincade and a new board of directors, including President Vanessa Palange.