Smoke Signals honored at ONPA convention

WELCHES -- The Grand Ronde Tribal newspaper, Smoke Signals, received one first-place award and two second-place awards in the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Associate Member contest.

Award recipients were announced Friday, July 13, at the annual convention held at the Resort at the Mountain in Welches.

Smoke Signals received a first-place plaque for being the best newspaper at reaching its Target Audience. Smoke Signals was judged based on the level of interest, relevance, creativity and commitment to its target audience.

Second place went to The Capital Press, a 35,000-circulation weekly agricultural newspaper published in Salem.

Tribal photographer Michelle Alaimo received a second-place certificate for her entry, which featured photos from the Tribe's participation in the 2011 Starlight Parade in Portland, the 2011 Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow and Tribal youth visiting a pumpkin patch in October.

Tribal graphic design specialist George Valdez also won a second-place certificate in graphics.

"The Capital Press is a perennial winner at ONPA in this category," said Publications Coordinator Dean Rhodes. "So for our staff to receive this first-place recognition is quite an honor. Everyone at Smoke Signals works diligently to put out a comprehensive, quality publication for the Tribal membership 24 times a year. To receive a first-place award from statewide media professionals recognizing our entire staff's effort is validation for all the hard work and dedication that goes into each issue of Smoke Signals."

Smoke Signals was the only Tribal newspaper honored in this year's ONPA Associate Member contest. Smoke Signals competed against other mainstream publications, such as the Sherwood Gazette, Portland Tribune and aforementioned Capital Press in the Associate Member category.

"ONPA only gave out 14 awards this year in the Associate Member contest, and for Smoke Signals staff to win three of them is a testament to the talented people we currently have working for the Tribe," Rhodes said. "Staff members continue to go the extra mile to ensure the Tribal membership receives a publication that can stand with the best newspapers - Tribal and nonTribal - in Oregon."

Smoke Signals also finished second for the Associate Member Sweepstakes Award contest, which assigned three points for a first-place finish, two points for a second-place award and one point for third place.

The Capital Press accumulated 10 points while Smoke Signals garnered seven.