The Journal won one or more awards in the News, Advertising and Special Sections divisions of the 2009 Better Newspaper Contest, sponsored by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association.

Staff members responsible for the winning entries are, in alphabetical order, Ron Bates, Rebecca Cook, Michael D’Abrosca, Scott Rasmussen, Howard Schonberger and Richard Walker. The Journal also won one or more staff awards.

Details of the awards will not be known until they are presented at the WNPA’s 122nd annual convention, Oct. 2 at the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia.

Washington Newspaper Publishers Association is an advocate for community newspapers, freedom of the press and open government. The association is dedicated to helping members advance editorial excellence, financial viability, professional development, and a high standard of publication quality and community leadership.

WNPA represents about 130 community newspapers. It was founded in 1887, two years before statehood.

The Journal of the San Juan Islands was founded Sept. 13, 1906 as the Friday Harbor Journal. It is published Wednesdays. The Journal also publishes a daily online news site, SanJuanJournal.com, founded in October 1998; Springtide, an annual magazine for visitors; The Book of the San Juan Islands, an annual almanac; and monthly, quarterly and seasonal special sections.