Yorkton This Week and the News Review have both won awards in the SWNA Better Newspaper Comp-
etition.
Yorkton This Week took second in Best Overall Newspaper, circulation 2,000 to 3,499. The News Review received third Best Editorial Page, circulation over 6,500.
The big winner was Thom Barker, who received the Best News Story prize for his coverage of the Jaycee Mildenberger murder trial.
“I’m pleased, but not overly surprised,” he said. “As soon as the prosecutor stood up on the first day in court and started outlining the Mr. Big sting that led to Mildenberger’s arrest, I knew the story was compelling enough to be an award-winner. I was just lucky enough to be the crime reporter in the jurisdiction where it happened.”
While not a surprise, it’s a satisfying win for Barker.
“This one is special for a few of reasons,” he said. “First, because of all the work I put into it. I have been following this case since September 2012, through all the appearances and adjournments and delays. Once the trial finally started, for those four weeks, I lived the story and I wrote a lot. When it was over, when I finally had a chance to digest everything, it was a bit traumatic. It was a horrific murder, so, it was really nice to be recognized in that sense.
“Secondly, it is for news. Most of my previous awards have been for feature stories and investigative, more analytical stuff. This was flat out, front page stuff, so it is satisfying in that way.”
Barker is proud to his first SWNA award, considering it a career highlight.
“It’s my first [Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Asso-
ciation] win. I’m a Saskatchewan boy, so I would put this one right up there with my [Canadian Community Newspaper Asso-
ciation] Best Feature Story award from 2008.”
Barker admits that he couldn’t win the award without support.
“I’ve really got to thank Neil Thom,” he said. “As a publisher, he gives me all the rope I need to hang myself, but he’s always there with a sharp knife to cut me down.”
