The Idaho Mountain Express claimed 39 Idaho Press Club awards Saturday, including the two top honors for weekly newspapers: first place in the coveted General Excellence category and the Sweepstakes prize for the most awards earned by one newspaper.
Sun Valley Guide magazine, published by Express Publishing, also earned top honors. The magazine received eight awards, including first place in the General Excellence category, giving Express Publishing three of the major awards handed out to print media in Idaho.
All told, the Press Club presented 105 awards to weeklies at its Best of 2005 awards banquet in Boise. The club's annual awards recognize excellence in print, television and radio journalism throughout the state.
Of the 39 newspaper awards garnered by Express reporters, photographers and production staff, eight were first-place honors. The newspaper's sports staff swept the sports news category, taking all three awards.
In awarding General Excellence honors to the Express, the Press Club judge wrote: "The Idaho Mountain Express excels at just about everything—from well-written stories, handsome layout and design and a clear sense of mission. An easy choice."
Writers for the Sun Valley Guide took five of six magazine writing awards presented, including first place in both the serious feature and light feature writing categories.
"I think our team did a really great job in 2005 and will continue to do a great job this year," said Publisher Pam Morris. "We're proud to provide the Wood River Valley with the best weekly newspaper in the state."
Here is a complete list of awards won by the Express and other members of the print media in the Wood River Valley.
Sweepstakes Award
(Most awards earned)
Daily: The Idaho Statesman
Weekly: Idaho Mountain Express
Television: KTVB Channel 7—Boise
Weekly Newspaper Awards
GENERAL EXCELLENCE
1st: The Idaho Mountain Express
Honorable Mention: The Wood River Journal
GENERAL NEWS STORY
2nd: Karen Bossick, The Wood River Journal, "Search and rescue dogs keep winter sports safe"
SPOT NEWS COVERAGE
1st: Susan Bailey, The Wood River Journal, "IRS Auction at Bavarian Village falls under minimum bid"
2nd: Matt Furber, Idaho Mountain Express, "Avalanche victim rescued"
3rd: Greg Moore, Idaho Mountain Express, "Hailey man rescued after four days in the snow"
SERIOUS FEATURE REPORT
3rd: Karen Bossick, The Wood River Journal, "Hemingway pals laid to rest"
LIGHT FEATURE REPORT
1st: Karen Bossick, The Wood River Journal, "New Baldy Run Named after Janet Leigh"
SERIES
2nd: Greg Stahl, Rebecca Meany, Matt Furber and Greg Moore, Idaho Mountain Express, "Growth threatens quality of life"
3rd: Dana DuGan, Idaho Mountain Express, "Bring Music in your Life"
OUTDOOR FEATURE
2nd: Rebecca Meany, Idaho Mountain Express, "Independent Wagon Train Offers Camaraderie Adventure"
3rd: Karen Bossick, The Wood River Journal, "Craters of the moon: Overdue for an Eruption?"
SPORTS NEWS
1st: Jeff Cordes, Idaho Mountain Express, "A brutal hockey fight and its aftermath"
2nd: Steve Benson, Idaho Mountain Express, "A peak experience"
3rd: Michael Ames, Idaho Mountain Express, "Snowboard team digs deep"
SPORTS FEATURE STORY:
2nd: Jeff Cordes, Idaho Mountain Express, "Bobby Ball shows Chiba's Marines how to win"
Honorable Mention: Karen Bossick, The Wood River Journal, "Wounded Warriors Take to Ice and Snow"
Honorable Mention: Steve Benson, Idaho Mountain Express, "Julia Argyros proves fishing is for everyone"
GENERAL COLUMN
2nd: Pat Murphy, Idaho Mountain Express, "Other Views"
3rd: Jim Banholzer, Idaho Mountain Express, "Hardscrabble Granola"
SPECIALTY COLUMN
1st: Gregory Foley, Idaho Mountain Express, "Food for Thought"
2nd: Michael Ames, Idaho Mountain Express, "DVD Daze"
3rd: David Larson - Wood River Journal - "Yahtzee!"
EDITORIAL
1st: Pam Morris, Idaho Mountain Express, "Deal stinks; Wasting away in Geezerville; What's wrong with Ketchum City Hall?"
3rd: Pat Murphy, Idaho Mountain Express, PU238: A sucker deal; Electric utilities bamboozle lawmakers with scare tactics; Why not 'inalienable rights' to clean Idaho environment?"
HEADLINES
2nd: Gregory Foley, Idaho Mountain Express, "Northern valley fades to black; Dollar Mountain: It's in the money; They came, they tasted, they bought; What awaits Papa's 'Garden of Eden'?; The Powder Gods Giveth; The hills are alive"
PAGE DESIGN
1st: Journal Staff, The Wood River Journal, "For Art's Sake"
2nd: Journal Staff, The Wood River Journal, "Fourth of July"
3rd: Tony Barriatua, Idaho Mountain Express, "Tango to miracles"
Honorable Mention: Tony Barriatua, Idaho Mountain Express, "Moments frozen in time"
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
1st: Willy Cook, Idaho Mountain Express, "Ski Joring links cultures of the West"
2nd: Willy Cook, Idaho Mountain Express, "9th Annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival"
3rd: Dev Mukh Khalsa, The Wood River Journal, "A million blessings arrive in Hailey"
Honorable Mention: Dev Mukh Khalsa, The Wood River Journal, "Oh, say can you see?"
SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY
3rd: David N. Seelig, Idaho Mountain Express, "Water World"
Honorable Mention: Dev Mukh Khalsa, The Wood River Journal, "Rodeo roundup"
PHOTO ESSAY
3rd: Willy Cook, Idaho Mountain Express, "In days of yore, knights were bold"
GRAPHICS
3rd: Gavin McNeil, Idaho Mountain Express, "Wine Wonderful Wine"
ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT REPORTING
1st: Karen Bossick, The Wood River Journal, "Forever Plaid: Heavenly singing...down to earth fun"
2nd: Michael Ames, Idaho Mountain Express, "They paved paradise and put up a killer show"
3rd: Dana DuGan, Idaho Mountain Express, "Walk right in"
Honorable Mention: Gregory Foley, Idaho Mountain Express, "They came, they tasted and they bought"
POLITICAL REPORTING
3rd: Greg Stahl, Idaho Mountain Express, "Mountain solitude belies looming political fight"
EDUCATION REPORTING
1st: Megan Thomas, Idaho Mountain Express, "Wood River student expelled for hacking into computer"
2nd: Karen Bossick, The Wood River Journal, "Butterflies illuminate Holocaust horrors"
BUSINESS REPORTING
1st: Kathleen L. Turner, The Wood River Journal, "Home Depot Execs to meet with Bellevue"
2nd: Rebecca Meany, Idaho Mountain Express, "Ketchum Restaurants follow Patrons South"
3rd: Susan Bailey, The Wood River Journal, "Williams Market closure reflects changed Ketchum"
AGRICULTURE REPORTING
1st: Karen Bossick, The Wood River Journal, "A Sheep's life with Lava Lake Lamb"
2nd: Susan Bailey, The Wood River Journal, "Gobble, gobble, gobble means good eating"
3rd: Karen Bossick, The Wood River Journal, "Couple shucks it all to go organic"
CRIME/COURTS REPORTING
1st: Patti Murphy, Idaho Mountain Express, "Sarah Johnson claims jail rape"
RELIGION REPORTING
1st: Karen Bossick, Wood River Journal, "Gathering explores art for faith's sake"
2nd: Michael Ames, Idaho Mountain Express, "The end of the world - at a church near you"
3rd: Karen Bossick, Wood River Journal, "Religious leaders discuss their faith"
ENVIRONMENT REPORTING
1st: Steve Benson, Idaho Mountain Express, "Yellowstone cutthroat threats"
2nd: Greg Stahl, Idaho Mountain Express, "The Spawn is on"
3rd: Susan Bailey, The Wood River Journal, "Not taking it slow, but smart"
HEALTH/MEDICAL REPORTING
2nd: Karen Bossick, The Wood River Journal, "Counting down to the ski season"
3rd: Matt Furber, Idaho Mountain Express, "Health info just a click away"
SPECIAL SECTION
1st: Journal Staff, The Wood River Journal, "For Art's Sake"
2nd: Journal Staff, The Wood River Journal, "His Holiness the Dalai Lama"
3rd: Gregory Foley, Idaho Mountain Express, "Arts & Crafts Festival Guide"
Honorable Mention: Journal Staff, The Wood River Journal, "Business & Professional Women"
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
3rd: David D. Larson, The Wood River Journal
Web site awards—Print
GENERAL EXCELLENCE
2nd: The Wood River Journal
SPECIAL PURPOSE
2nd: Rich Trevillian, Sun Valley Guide
Magazine Awards
GENERAL EXCELLENCE
1st: Jennifer Tuohy, Sun Valley Guide
MAGAZINE WRITING - SERIOUS FEATURE
1st: Gregory Foley, Sun Valley Guide, "Wolverines — Ghosts in Our Woods"
3rd: Gregory Foley, Sun Valley Guide, "Best of All He Loved the Fall"
Honorable Mention: Matt Furber, Sun Valley Guide, "Shadow Cats"
MAGAZINE WRITING—LIGHT FEATURE
1st: Jennifer Pattison, Sun Valley Guide, "The Dress Quest"
2nd: Pat Murphy, Sun Valley Guide, "Leading Lady"
3rd: Michael Ames, Sun Valley Guide, "Feasting on Tuesday's Plenty"
MAGAZINE PHOTOGRAPHY
1st: Chris Pilaro, Sun Valley Guide, "Window Upon the World"