The Vineyard Gazette was honored with 28 awards at the New England Better Newspaper Competition held in Portland, Maine over the weekend, including 11 first place finishes.

The contest period ran from August 1, 2023 through July 31, 2024, with weekly and small daily newspapers competing in various circulation categories.

Former reporter Thomas Humphrey and photographer Ray Ewing led the way with a combined five first place awards, two second place awards and three third place awards.

Mr. Ewing won three first place prizes for his photos of last winter’s storm destruction, and of the humpback whale that washed up on the beach at cow bay.

Ray Ewing also won first place for his photography coverage of last year's storms. — Ray Ewing

Mr. Humphrey won two first place awards, one in the history reporting category for his story on new research into the Vineyard’s deaf community, and one for an obituary of Yvonne the goat, who ruled the herd at Native Earth Teaching Farm.

Jane McTeigue took home two first place awards, one for her work as graphic designer for the newspaper’s subscription drive for the Boys & Girls Club, and one as art director for the niche publication, Island Guide.

Jared Maciel won a first place award for his design work on the Gazette’s Treasure Map, and Kharma Finley-Wallace won a first place award for her work on the Juneteenth event.

For the third year in a row, webmaster Graham Smith was honored with a first place award for best website homepage.

The Vineyard Gazette earned a third place award for general excellence and Graham Smith also won a second place award for best overall website.

Jeanna Shepard won first place for her photo of Kate Lizotte. — Jeanna Shepard

Rounding out the photography winners were Jeanna Shepard, taking home a first place award for her portrait of artist Kate Lizotte, beating out Ray Ewing in the category who took second place for his photo of the Little League parade, and Tim Johnson for a third place award for his feature photo of a dog named Tess jumping into the water.

Additional awards included second place finishes for Thomas Humphrey (local personality profile), Ethan Genter (transportation reporting), Louisa Hufstader (arts & entertainment reporting), Noah Glasgow (human interest feature story), Brooke Kushwaha (social issues feature story), McKinley Sanders (pure advertising niche publication), Bill Eville (serious columnist), and third place awards for Thomas Humphrey (business/economic reporting, local personality profile, environmental reporting), McKinley Sanders (special section/advertising supplement), and Jane McTeigue and Susie Middleton (overall design and presentation of a niche product).