The Martha's Vineyard Times proudly announces its fourteen winning entries in the 2005 New England Press Association Better Newspaper Contest

Posted February 16, 2006

Best Newspaper Web Site - 1st Place.
Terrific depth of local info: sports, real estate, free classifieds for cheap items, calendar, honor roll, courts, weather, web cam.

Editorial Page - 1st Place.
On our behalf, December 9, 2004
The main face of The Times' editorial section is the editorial itself; and this eloquently crafted piece in support of the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank (and in defense of the Bank's straw purchase of a property) sets the pace for the rest of the section. A wonderfully tongue-in-cheek cartoon portraying affordable (cemetery) lots in the region complements thought-provoking letters to the editor and guest essays and commentaries. This is a class act. Click here to view >>

Health Reporting - 2nd Place. Nelson Sigelman
Inside the Martha's Vineyard Hospital Emergency Room, February 10, 2005
On Martha's Vineyard, it is considered one of the front lines of medical care. So, rather than a brief article on one aspect of the emergency room at Martha's Vineyard Hospital, reporter Nelson Sigelman took a more universal, but still personal approach: he profiled each member of the emergency room's staff, from the director of emergency services to one of the ER's secretaries. Their dedication is exemplified by a quote Sigelman elicited from the ER's director: "I had not had anybody come in alive in over a decade and leave dead and I was not about to break that streak." Sigelman provided readers with a table that showed a minute-by-minute snapshot over 24 hours of ER activity. Click here to view >>

Advertising General Excellence - 2nd Place.
Newspaper has very clean, friendly and inviting look. Even though the newspaper is a tab, it does not seem cluttered or compact. Great business directory.

Classified Advertising Section - 2nd Place.
The photo header on this section front clearly identifies the locale and gives it a sense of place. The bold headers on the real estate listings make it easy to see what's on the market in each of the Vineyard communities. Free Bargain Box ads are a great reader feature, as are the free online companion listings. Click here to view >>

Infographics - 2nd Place. Tara Kenny
Residential building permits issued for MV 1980-2004,
Doing Business - summer 2005
An important graphic with 24-year span. Everything important works.
The scale, color key, x and y axis. Click here to view >>

Local Ad (Black & White) - 3rd Place.
This ad just makes you smile. The "Serious" headline juxtaposed with the wacky painting suggests that Vineyard Lights is a fun place to shop. Soft pastel tones make it stand out from the other ads on the page. Click here to view >>

Coverage of a Racial or Ethnic Issue - 3rd Place.
Mandred Henry: A generous spirit, July 7, 2005
A sensitive portrait of an influential community civil rights leader, with valueable additional perspective from other on Martha's Vineyard who knew him well. Click here to view >>

Self Promotion - 3rd Place. Islanders Read The Times
The Martha's Vineyard Times staff doesn't have to worry about promoting itself - its readers do it for them!
The newspaper encourages readers to take their copies of the newspaper with them and send in "postcards" from around the world. The Times has been photographed atop a camel in Egypt, on a roller coaster in Orlando, on the Yucutan Peninsula, in Belize, Mongolia, Antarctica, Zimbabwe - even on the Queen Mary. By running the photos through the paper on a regular basis, The Times emphasizes its readers' loyalty and sense of ownership. Click here to view >>

Transportation/Commuter Reporting - 3rd Place. Nelson Sigelman
For SSA passengers it was standby and wait, December 30, 2004
The Steamship Authority is the lifeline between Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard. That lifeline was temporarily fractured when a major winter storm shut down ferry service. Many stranded motorists fround they could not make reservations for a later time or wait in a standby line. Reporter Nelson Sigelman interviewed commuters and Authority representatives to put together a powerful package of stories that detailed the issues, culminating with the Authority setting new policies for ferry cancellation. Backed by anecdotal reporting on those incovenienced. Sigelman focused on the overall problem. Click here to view >>

Reporting on Religious Issues - 3rd Place. Pat Waring
Preacher, woodworker, fisherman - A profile of the Very Reverend Francis B. Sayre, February 3, 2005
A nice effort, comprehensive and thoughtful. The article made me want to know about a fascinating man. Click here to view >>

Community Involvement in The Paper - 3rd Place.
The Times' effort to draw more voices into the paper has clearly succeeded, making the paper's Op-Ed a vital and important place. Click here to view >>

Sponsorship Page - 3rd Place.
Section will be kept for years by the graduates. Cover is inviting, and the students' pictures and content pages have good organization. Click here to view >>