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Lighthouse staff

 COUNTY - Lighthouse Publishing's editorial staff has been recognized for its continuing coverage of the Swissair tragedy that claimed the lives of 229 people last September.

 Judges for the Atlantic Journalism Awards chose Lighthouse Publishing to receive honourable mention in its continuing coverage category for print media. The designation makes The Bulletin/Progress Enterprise one of two community newspapers recognized in the annual competition. The Coast, published weekly in Halifax, is also nominated for an award.

 The Atlantic Journalism Awards are presented each year to print and electronic media in Atlantic Canada. They are adminstered by the University of King's College School of Journalism.

Lighthouse Publishing's coverage of the Swissair disaster has earned the editoral staff an honourable mention in the Atlantic Journalism Awards.

 In selecting the Lighthouse staff entry, judges said, "with limited resources but plenty of tenacity and creativity, the Lighthouse staff, in the best tradition of community journalism, turned a global news event into a story by, for and about the community they serve."

 Finalists in this competition were The St. John's Telegram for its coverage of men who claimed to be abused at a boy's home and The Chronicle-Herald for its Swissair coverage.

 Coverage of the Swissair crash dominated the awards competition as nominations were made public last week. Winners will be announced during a ceremony in April. This year a record-breaking 400 entries were considered for the awards.

 Lighthouse Publisher Lynn Hennigar said she is delighted that Lighthouse staff received this prestigious recognition for its excellent coverage of the Swissair tragedy.

 "Competition for the Atlantic Journalism Awards is stiff and for us to get an honourable mention, which is really third place, is gratifying and further proof that you don't have to be big to do well, you just have to be determined and competent. I'm very proud of our Lighthouse team," she said. "Everyone works hard, they all work well together, and it shows."