The Covington-Maple Valley-Black Diamond Reporter won seven awards in the 2011 Washington Better Newspaper Contest, including a second place for General Excellence and a third place for Kris Hill’s series “Under the Influence.”

The awards were presented Oct. 7 at an awards dinner during the 124th annual Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Convention at the Holiday Inn Downtown Everett.The Reporter’s circulation is 24,100 and it competed against other newspapers in Group IV, the highest circulation category. The newspapers were judged on work produced from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011.

The contest drew 2,523 entries from 78 community newspapers; entries were judged by members of the Texas Press Association.

Editorial

Second place: General Excellence – tied with the Kent Reporter

Third place: Comprehensive Coverage of a Single Issue or Series — “Under the Influence” by Kris Hill

Advertising

First place: Best Special Promotion Single Ad for Single Advertiser- 1/2-pg or smaller – Iron grill Mongolian Barbecue – Kristi Chevalier

Second place: Best Special Promotion Single Ad for Single Advertiser- larger than 1/2 pg – 2Seven2 – Kristi Chevalier, Kathy McCauley

Third place: Best Branding Ad – Single Ad for Single Advertiser – Pinnacle Physical Therapy – Kristi Chevalier, Kathy McCauley

Third place: Multiple-Advertiser Ad- 1-2 full pages – Preschool & Daycare Directory – Kristi Chevalier, Kathy McCauley, Joan Carlson

Third place: Youth-Oriented Content – Camp Berachah – Kristi Chevalier