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Lighthouse staff

 BRIDGEWATER - Lighthouse Publishing staff and newspapers continue to be among the best in Canada after winning several national awards last week during the Canadian Community Newspapers' Association's annual convention in Calgary.

 The Bulletin, competing in circulation class 12,500 to 24,999 was named the second best paper behind The Pointe Claire/West Island Chronicle in Quebec. On its way to the winners' circle, The Bulletin was judged to have the best editorial page of the 20 papers in this class.

 The Bulletin also placed first for community news content and advertising design.

 Judges in this category said the top papers "were committed to in-depth community coverage, a pride in every aspect of operation and a lively streak of creativity.

 In individual awards, for the third consecutive year, Lighthouse reporters have won the best news story. This year, however, Lighthouse staff won first and second respectively for their handling of the Tancook double murder-suicide tragedy and the crash of Swissair Flight 111.

 Lisa Brown and Mark Roberts were singled out for rising to the challenge of covering a double murder-suicide in June 1998 on Big Tancook.

 Judges said, "The superior, on-the-ground reporting took me to the scene and not only conveyed the facts but also made me feel for those involved. Brown's thorough interview with the team leader of the provincial forensic psychiatry service clinched first place. I've never read a better explanation of the unexplainable, anywhere."

 Of the second-place Swissair story, the judge said, "The Swissair crash in September 1998 killed 229 people and overshadowed the lives of people living near the crash site. The handful of staff at Lighthouse Publishing not only covered the story, but also devoted several dozen pages to the story over the next four months. Solid reporting."

 The judge continued, "I praise the publisher for the company's commitment to an advertising-free, full-colour, 12-page supplement devoted to the crash aftermath."

 Also in individual awards, Mark Roberts received a third place award for best feature series with his coverage of the controversial seal hunt.

 "Though the merits of the first-person narrative are still debatable, Roberts' vivid account of the seal hunt, combined with a balanced presentation of opposing viewpoints, worked effectively," the judge said.

 Lighthouse Publishing managing editor Marg Hennigar claimed third place in the best local editorial competition.

 The judge said, "Marg Hennigar tackled the very sensitive subjects of political correctness and equality in the workplace. She clearly defined the topic, explained the situation and then plainly expressed a very informative opinion."

 In special competitions Lighthouse Publishing's Christmas edition won first place in two circulation classes.

 The judges said, "The Progress Enterprise was the runaway winner and the only newspaper to actually go out of its way to create a special section. Its Christmas Angels contest was inspiring and a fitting way to recognize those who give of their time during the holiday season. The finished product showed a great deal of work and, more importantly, planning had gone into it."

 They also said, "What set The Bulletin apart was the initiative that took ideas that extra mile. Instead of simply publishing submissions, as many papers did, reporter Jodie Turner sought out those nominated and featured them as Christmas Angels. The end result was a Christmas section filled with people and their good deeds during the holidays."

 "I was in Calgary last week for the Canadian newspaper awards and I was very proud of our staff and the great showing our newspapers made nationally," said Lighthouse president Lynn Hennigar.

 "Congratulations to everyone at Lighthouse Publishing," Ms Hennigar said. "It takes teamwork to publish a newspaper, but it takes a great team to publish great newspapers. I'm extremely proud of the great team we have at Lighthouse."