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SONOMA web, mag 'best' in state contest

SONOMA, the website and SONOMA Magazine, both produced and published by The Sonoma Index-Tribune, earned first place honors last week in the annual California Newspaper Publishers Association's Better Newspapers Contest. The I-T also won first place for best general news photo, plus second place awards for best business story, writing, breaking news photo and general news photo.

The BNC is an annual news competition sponsored by CNPA and recognizes outstanding journalistic achievements published by daily and weekly California newspapers during the year. Dailies and weeklies compete in the same categories but separate divisions, based on their circulation. The I-T competes in the weekly 4,300 to 11,000 circulation division.

The awards were presented during the state association's 2011 conference in Los Angeles April 16.

The I-T also earned certificates of achievement (finishing in the top four) for editorials and editorial pages, and yet another breaking news photo.

"It is gratifying that the judges recognized the quality of work that goes into our magazine and our website, and that our team of photographers (two of whom also are editors) all earned awards for their efforts," said I-T Publisher Bill Lynch.

Bill Hoban, I-T managing editor, earned two, Robbi Pengelly earned one, and Editor David Bolling, also earned one. Lynch also pointed out that Emily Charrier's business story about local egg producers earned a plaque, as did the writing and editing of Bolling.

"SONOMA Magazine is simply the best magazine produced by any newspaper in the state. Our entire staff takes a lot of pride in every issue. SONOMA the website (sonomanews.com), is always changing. We are continually updating and upgrading content and its many channels and features. Our readership is growing every week, and winning first place tells us we are doing many things right," Lynch added.