SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - NWT News/North earned 10 awards at the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association's Better Newspapers Competition held earlier this month in Regina.

A feature photo contributed by Bridget Wolki captured top spot in the Best Feature Photo category. The image shows Sachs Harbour resident Richard Carpenter standing at the dump with a polar bear sniffing some potential food behind him.

"This photo was the clear winner in this category," the judge stated. "The composition is great as is the detail and the fact that both subjects appear to be so natural and at ease together."

Reporter Andrew Livingstone's "exemplary" series of stories on the decline of the Bathurst caribou herd was chosen as the premiere entry in the Best Research Category.

"Using a writing style that is fully accessible to the reader, Livingstone presents a comprehensive look at this complex problem," the judge wrote. "His selection of speakers provided a good variety of viewpoints, and by carrying some speakers from one story to the next, he provided strong links between the stories. Overall this was an informative and compelling series."

Best Post Secondary Story went to reporter Katie May, who wrote about opposing views of NWT high school graduates' credentials in the article, "Diplomas failing NWT students."

"This is a well-written piece about a highly-charged issue," the judge stated. "It flows easily from one speaker to another, and the selection of voices provides a good range of views and opinions."

The 2009 Degrees of Success feature earned Best Overall Coverage K-12 Education.

News/North was second in its class for Best Newspaper Overall.

An editorial titled, "Healthy food is no luxury; $1.5 million for cheaper milk worth the price," was deemed second best in Editorial Writing Excellence. The GNWT's reluctance to adopt a $1.5 million subsidy on milk is "nothing compared to the cost burden for Northern families forced to choose between the health of their children and paying the bills," the editorial, written by Western Assignment Editor Chris Puglia, read in part.

NWT News/North also earned second place for Best Editorial Page.

Opportunities North, an annual overview of Northern industries, earned second place in the Best Special Section category.

"This is a great publication that is full of excellent, exciting content," the judge wrote.

The use of vivid colour, and pictures and maps from various NWT regions were mentioned as eye-catching qualities.

Reporter Elizabeth McMillan's story "Bulatci guilty as charged," detailing the first-degree murder conviction of Emrah Bulatci in the killing of Hay River RCMP Const. Christopher Worden, finished in third place among the 23 entries in the Best News Story of the Year category.

Reporter Paul Bickford was third in the Photographer of the Year class.