OVN named nation's best newspaper
The Inland Press Foundation has named the Ojai Valley News as the nation's best non-daily newspaper in the 5,000-and-under circulation category.

The award was given at the Weekly Publishers Conference awards banquet at the Hilton East Hotel in Tucson on Friday. The OVN was selected from among 90 of the nation's top non-daily newspapers from 32 states. Bret Bradigan, OVN editor and publisher, represented the newspaper at the ceremony.

Judges included David Nelson, co-chair of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism; Patricia Colander, editor and publisher of Lake Magazine; and William Roesgen, a retired editor and publisher. According to the awards notification, "The judging decisions were based on the newspaper's ability to attract readership, its design for readability, its efforts to provide good community coverage, and the presentation of quality writing and execution."

Bradigan said it was extremely gratifying to win the award, and a "wonderful reflection on the quality of our small, but extremely dedicated and talented, staff."

Three newspaper issues were selected for judging; two were judges' selection and the remaining issue was up to the discretion of the newspaper. "Those issues the judges selected just fortuitously happened to match up to two of our strongest issues," Bradigan said. One of those issues, published Sept. 11, 2002, included an eight-page special section about Ojai's remembrance of the Twin Towers tragedy. That issue contained more than 40 separate contributions from the people of Ojai, including local photographer Joe Sohm's poignant images of New York City.

"In a very real sense this is an award we are happy to credit to the people of Ojai," said Bradigan.

Lenny Roberts, managing editor and 12-year veteran of the OVN staff, agreed, but cited the staff's dedication and committment to prevail as equal factors in winning the coveted award.

"When Bret took over the reins a little more than two years ago, he set high goals for all of us, one of which was to be the best we could be. Being named the best newspaper in the country for our size is something for which we have all strived, and is, indeed, a true honor. Our experienced editorial, production, advertising and circulation staff is a very close-knit family and a true part of the Ojai lifestyle. But we will not rest on our laurels, and our intent is to only get better."
Judges' commented that the OVN has a "solid blend of good local stories in each section - news, sports, business and arts - with clean design and clear writing."

Second place was won by the The Aspinwall Herald in Pennsylvania; third place was won by Windsor Beacon in Colorado.

Other winners were as follows. Circulation 5,001 to 10,000: First place, Pilot & Today, Steamboat Springs, Colorado; second place, Andover Townsman, Mass.; third place, Frontiersman, Wasilla, Alaska. Circulation more than 10,000: First place, Portland Tribune, Oregon; second place, Chicago Journal, Illinois; third place, Peninsula Gateway, Gig Harbor, Wash.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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