News-Times recognized by Oregon news association for outstanding coverage

The results are in, and writers for the News-Times were showered with honors for their work in 2023.

The Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association presented the awards in its Better Newspaper Contest on Thursday, July 18, at Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond. The News-Times staff was awarded a total of seven awards for their coverage of Hillsboro and Forest Grove.

Reporter Nick LaMora took home third place in Best Educational Coverage for “ Forest Grove students, school district say return of SROs a success ” and third place for Best Personality Feature for “ A more personal touch to meeting St. Nick .”

Veteran reporter Ray Pitz won third place in Best Enterprise Reporting for “ Back to life ,” covering the Balm Grove dam. In The Times — covering Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin and Sherwood — Pitz was honored with first place for Best Personality Feature of “ All about acceptance .” He was also awarded second place in Best Writing, second place in Best Coverage of Business or Economic Issue for “ Not quite as easy as pie: Banning’s Restaurant reopens ,” and shared a second place win with editor Lauren Bishop and former reporter Aurora Biggers for “ Deputy critically wounded in shooting ,” which appeared in both papers.

Longtime photojournalist Jaime Valdez was awarded second place for Best News Photo with “School is back in session” and second place for Best Feature Photo with “Singing in the Rain.”

Valdez also won five awards for photos published in The Times and two more for photos published in the Wilsonville Spokesman, in total netting nine wins.

Former reporter and current editor of the Washington County papers Lauren Bishop also won first place for Best Enterprise Reporting for “ Slowing a 'biological wildfire' ” and was the recipient of another first-place solo win in Best Government Coverage for “ 'Zoom bombing' disrupts council meeting .” She was also honored with second place wins for Best Educational Coverage and Best Spot News Coverage on “ Hazelbrook Middle School terrorized by threats ” alongside engagement editor Geoffrey Pursinger.

Several other Pamplin Media reporters and editors were recognized at last week’s conference in as well, including News-Times sports editor Wade Evanson, who received third place for Best Local Column.

The Forest Grove News-Times was also awarded third place for Best Page One Design.

The association recognized reporters and editors from the News-Times and other sister publications, among other media outlets across Oregon, for their outstanding coverage. Assistant editor Kaelyn Cassidy was honored with nine awards through ONPA in 2023, which she spent at the News-Times’ sister publication the Wilsonville Spokesman.