Each year AWNA’s members gather from across Alberta and the Northwest Territories for the gala and symposium, and the much anticipated Better Newspapers Competition where a jury panel judges the performance of members from the previous year.

Members submit articles that fit different categories months ahead of the convention.

The Northern Journal was competing in the toughest class of all, those newspapers with a circulation of 3500 to 6499 (ours was just over 5000). Despite the stiff competition, we received the following awards:

Best Overall Score
1. Northern Journal
2. Yellowknife Yellowknifer
3. Bow Island Commentator

Best Front Page
1. Northern Journal
2. Lamont Leader
3. Bow Island Commentator

Best Editorial Page
1. Northern Journal
2. Bow Island Commentator
3. Brooks Bulletin

The Northern Journal also received the following awards for feature writing:

Arts and Culture Writing
Third place for Tlicho designers celebrate Aboriginal Day with fashion show
Credits: Dali Carmichael, Candice Ward

Best Environmental Writing
Second place for UNESCO to review hydro, oilsands threats to Wood Buffalo National Park
Credits: Meagan Wohlberg

The awards and accolades were bitter-sweet for the Journal’s owners and staff, who were proud of the recognition for their good work, but saddened by the demise of the in-print edition of the Northern Journal, which had to be terminated do to a lack of advertising support.