Sound Publishing’s weekly newspapers serving South King County communities won big at the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association (WNPA) awards in Bellingham on Oct. 8.

In the 2022 Better Newspaper Contest, 48 participating newspapers submitted 231 advertising entries, 1,166 news entries and 280 photography entries, among other divisions, for judges’ consideration. The contest was judged by the South Dakota Press Association.

The Federal Way Mirror newspaper won first place in the Group 4 General Excellence category, a coveted award by all local weekly newspapers. This honor is awarded to Mirror Advertising Director Carol Greiling, Sales Manager Cindy Ducich, Editorial Director Andy Hobbs and Assistant Editor Olivia Sullivan.

In advertising, Creative Artist Tracy Long and Ducich took third place in the Multiple-Advertiser Ad category. Long also took second place in the Use of Small Space category. For the Newspaper House Ad category, Long and Ducich placed third.

The Mirror’s Taste of Federal Way feature section was awarded third place in the Topical In-Paper Section category.

In the editorial categories, Sullivan’s story about a Federal Way City Councilmember’s social media comments about vaccinated people won first place in the Government category. In the Crime & Court category, Sullivan took first place with a story about a Federal Way man who was struck and dragged by a vehicle in 2021; there are still no suspects identified in this case. Sullivan’s story about a couple who was kidnapped while camping in Dash Point State Park took third place in the category, and a story about a man saved from a car after driving into the water off of the Redondo Beach boat launch placed third in the Breaking News category.

A story about a memorial bench for a Thomas Jefferson High School student being moved to the parents’ home won first place in the Long General Feature category, and a story about the county’s controversial needle exchange program operating in Federal Way took second place in the Social Issue category.

Sullivan also was awarded first place for a general news photo, and took second place in the general feature story category with a story about two people who met at Camelot Elementary School and later practiced their first wedding dance in the school’s same courtyard.

The WNPA is an organization that advocates for community newspapers in Washington state, freedom of the press and open government. The association is dedicated to helping members advance editorial excellence, financial viability, professional development, and a high standard of publication quality and community leadership.