The 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 Times staff was awarded a total of 12 awards for their coverage of Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin and Sherwood.

Veteran Times reporter Ray Pitz was honored with first place for Best Personality Feature on “ All about acceptance .” He was also awarded second place in Best Writing, which included submissions of “ All about acceptance ,” “ A Christmas love story, ” and “ Sherwood voters elect Thornton .”

He was also placed second in Best Coverage of Business or Economic Issue for “ Not quite as easy as pie: Banning’s Restaurant reopens .”

Pitz additionally placed third in the Best Enterprise Reporting category for " Back to life " which appeared in the News-Times — which covers Hillsboro and Forest Grove — and shared a second place Best Spot News Coverage win with editor Lauren Bishop and former reporter Aurora Biggers for “ Deputy critically wounded in shooting ,” which appeared in both local papers.

Bishop, former reporter and current editor of The Times, The News-Times, The Newberg Graphic and The Columbia County Spotlight, took first place for Best Government Coverage with “ '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.

Bishop was also honored with first place in Best Enterprise Reporting for “ Slowing a 'biological wildfire' ” in the News-Times.

Longtime photojournalist Jaime Valdez swept the Best News Photo category with, in order: “Family anxious for news on Gaza hostages” in The Times, “School is back in session” in the News-Times and “Camping in the city” in the Times.

Valdez also took second place in the Best Photo Essay competition for “There’s nothing like it” on the West Coast Pumpkin Regatta in Tualatin, third place in Best Sports Photo for “Here comes the clash,” as well as third place for Best Feature Photo with “Festival of Balloons.”

Valdez also won another award for photos published in the Forest Grove News-Times and two more for photos published in the Wilsonville Spokesman.

The Times was also honored with first place in General Excellence, which denotes the best overall newspaper of its size in Oregon.

Several other local reporters and editors were recognized at last week’s conference in as well, including Times sports editor Wade Evanson, who received third place for Best Local Column. Evanson’s columns were submitted on behalf of the News-Times, the Times’ sister publication in Forest Grove and Hillsboro, although many of them appeared in the Times last year as well.

Additionally through the News-Times, reporter Nick LaMora took home third place in Best Educational Coverage in the News-Times with " 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 ,” which also appeared in The Times.

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 for her 2023 coverage, which she spent at The Times’ sister publication, the Wilsonville Spokesman.