The Journal of the San Juan Islands was honored today for community service at the 121st annual Washington Newspaper Publishers Association convention, in Yakima.

The Journal won second place for community service — its eighth since 2001 — for its reporting on, and advocacy for, efforts to reduce the use of Styrofoam on San Juan Island.

The Journal is scheduled to receive awards for news reporting, photography and advertising later at the convention.

In previous years, The Journal was recognized for its comparative study of growth in Nantucket, Mass., and San Juan County; reporting on senior health care issues in the community; its donation of 106 years of historical newspapers to the San Juan Historical Society; its assistance in establishing a benefit account for workers displaced in the May 9, 2002 fire; its call to arms to complete the Family Resource Center building; its reporting on and advocacy for charter government; and its support and advocacy for the San Juan Anti-Litter Initiative.

The Journal received awards for General Excellence from WNPA in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Its Classified section won second place in national judging sponsored by Suburban Newspapers of America. The Journal has also received awards for column writing from the Washington Press Association, and editorial writing and newspaper design from the Society of Professional Journalists Western Washington chapter.

The Journal, which also publishes SanJuanJournal.com, Springtide magazine, The Book of the San Juan Islands and other publications, competes annually in the association’s Better Newspaper Contest. Its division includes newspapers with circulation of 2,501 to 5,000.

This year’s contest entries were judged by members of the Louisiana Press Association. Judges reviewed 2,835 entries submitted by 80 newspapers.

WNPA represents 114 community newspapers across Washington state. WNPA promotes open government, defends the First Amendment, sponsors the state’s annual Better Newspaper Contest and offers continuing education for publishers and staff members.

WNPA was founded in 1887, two years before Washington was admitted to the Union.