UNITY — Press-Herald retired editor, and now freelancer, Helena Long, has won first place for her July 2021 editorial "Phippen Philosophy," under the best of First Nations coverage.
The Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association awards were held virtually May 13. Long has won multiple awards with SWNA in past years and this first place win adds another achievement on her resume.
Regarding Long’s submission, judges stated, “This editorial does something that really shouldn’t be necessary – inviting the non-Indigenous reader to transpose the pain and intergenerational impact of the residential school system into their own families. Sadly, the fact that it is necessary, makes it all the more impactful. By asking the reader to imagine the horrors of residential schools visited on the ones they love, it forces the reader to come to terms with how brutal the system truly was and how long-lasting its impacts are.”
We have reprinted Long’s award-winning editorial in the May 20 issue of the Unity-Wilkie Press Herald.
Sherri Solomko was also nominated in three categories, earning third place in the province for Best Healthcare Coverage on her story “Recent area graduates now front line of pandemic,” with a mark of 90, only four points behind top spot. She also earned third place in the province for “Unity bat story comes to a conclusion,” under the Best Habitat Conservation Writing. The other category Solomko was nominated in was Best Black and White photo, “Hidden Horses,” photo which earned third place.
Unity-Wilkie Press-Herald has a number of plaques and certificates over the years from past SWNA hanging in the office, showcasing the talent and commitment of the Press-Herald team to bring quality stories and material to readers.
