Yellowknife (Jun 09/06) - Yellowknifer assignment editor Mike W. Bryant has earned a pair of national newspaper awards.

Bryant earned two second-place awards in the Canadian Community Newspapers Association better newspapers awards for outstanding columnist and best historical story.

Mike W. Bryant

His Fishin' Technician column appears regularly in Yellowknifer.

"Mike W. Bryant... fills a page with Gen-X irreverence and style that I am sure rock his audience's world," said judge David Cadogan, a longtime Maritime newspaper publisher.

Bryant's "The last flight of Chuck McAvoy" was praised as using "vivid descriptions and lively prose" to recount the 1964 disappearance and subsequent search for aviator Chuck McAvoy.

"Locating and obtaining details from people who could provide first-hand memories of the enigmatic aviator and his disappearance added a powerful flavour to the piece," wrote judge Barb Brouwer, editor of the Salmon Arm (B.C.) Observer.

These were two of nine awards earned by Northern News Services publications.

Cartoonist Norm Muffitt won best local cartoon honours for the Deh Cho Drum.

NWT News/North finished first in best ad design competition and the annual NNSL publication Opportunities North was judged best special section.

Nunavut News/North won two awards, finishing third in general excellence, an overall competition scoring writing, photography, advertising design and layout, and best ad design.

Longtime Deh Cho Drum editor Derek Neary finished second in the best photo essay competition, while NNSL's annual Oil and Gas supplement was third in the best special section competition for the Inuvik Drum.

Judges also praised Yellowknifer sports editor Chris Puglia with an honourable mention for a photograph of a snowcross crash that appeared in NWT News/North.

Kivalliq News editor Darrell Greer also received an honourable mention for his photo essay covering a theatrical production of the Wizard of Oz.