Fort Simpson (July 02/04) - The Deh Cho Drum won second place in the Best All Round category in a national community newspaper competition in Ottawa.

Newspapers from around the country got together in Ottawa-Gatineau, Que., June 5, to celebrate excellence in the Canadian community newspaper industry.

Among the 687 member publications, Northern newspapers were well represented in the winner's circle of the Better Newspaper Competition.

NWT newspapers owned by Northern News Services Ltd. finished among the top three in various categories.

The Deh Cho Drum, edited by Derek Neary, was "A revelation editorially," the national judges said.

Inuvik Drum won Best Front page while Yellowknifer won third place in Best All Round.

News/North again took Best Special Section with its 20th annual Opportunities North. According to the judges, "Everyone who viewed it said 'wow!'... touches on virtually every sector of business...Impressive work."

Reporter Pieta Goudron of the Hay River Hub, won second place in Best Feature Story with a report on homeless people. "A writer with compassion yet with a hand that doesn't shake."

In Nunavut, Kivalliq News, edited by Darrell Greer, won third Best All Round in its class. Editor Greer also took first place in Best Feature Story. Headlined Night of the grizzly, judges called Greer "A fine story teller."

Nunatsiaq News, distributed in Nunavut and Nunavik, took second place in Best All Round and Best Editorial Page and third place in Best Coverage Arts.