SEATTLE – The Peninsula Daily News won five writing awards in the annual Washington Press Association competition.
The awards were announced at an awards luncheon in Seattle on Saturday.
The awards, which are peer-judged, recognize journalistic excellence in newspapers across the state.
Three of the awards went to Paul Gottlieb, PDN commentary page editor.
One went to former PDN reporter Andrew Binion.
Jim Casey, PDN reporter, also received an award.
Gottlieb won a first place award in the daily newspaper, news category for his June 26 article, “Do helmet laws save lives?”
The story ran in the wake of the June 17 death of 14-year-old Frank Russo of Port Angeles, who died of head injuries suffered in a fall at the Port Angeles Skate Park.
Russo was not wearing a helmet when he fell.
The judge who read Gottlieb’s helmet law story called it “an excellent follow to a major story.”
Gottlieb won another first place award in the daily newspaper, columns category.
His three winning entries were written about the Elwha dams removal project, jobs and housing and affordable rental housing.
Gottlieb took second place in the daily newspaper, series category.
His two articles probed the plight of children of methamphetamine-addicted mothers.
The stories appeared April 30 and May 1.
Binion, who now writes for the Kitsap Sun, won second place in the daily newspaper, news category for his Nov. 11 PDN story about 19-year-old Jacob Hanson.
Hanson committed suicide on Nov. 6 a little more than three months after learning of the death of his brother, Marine Lance Cpl. Jason Hanson, in Iraq.
A judge called Binion’s work “very good reporting” with language that was “spare and direct.”
Casey captured an honorable mention for his Aug. 7 story, “The Saga of Steve K.,” about an Illinois man who walked away from his home and job to reappear as a homeless man in Port Angeles 13 years later.
Casey’s story about Steve K. – who has been reunited with family members – profiled “an individual who perhaps represents the stories of many people who are virtually invisible,” a judge said.
The statewide press association awards went to entrants in 36 categories of articles, headlines, photographs and editorial cartoons and illustrations for daily and non-daily newspapers, books; advertising and public relations.
