The Monadnock Ledger-Transcript was awarded first place by the New Hampshire Press Association in its top category, general excellence for a non-daily paper.
For the first time since 2019, the New Hampshire Press Association Distinguished Journalism Awards ceremony was held in person Thursday at Saint Anselm College in Manchester. The Monadnock-Ledger Transcript, as well as individual reporters Ben Conant and Ashley Saari, received accolades.
Conant took first place in three individual categories, two for writing and one in a photography category. Conant received first place for a feature story in a non-daily paper, for his story “Writer, teacher, actor – mentor,” a memorial piece honoring Yankee Magazine writer and editor and ConVal High School teacher Tim Clark.
Conant swept the podium in the category of sports feature, winning first place for his piece, “Run steep, get high,” the account of Larsen Ojala’s grueling successful attempt to climb Mount Monadnock 17 times in 24 hours, breaking the record, and his battle with addiction.
In the same category, he was also recognized for second place for “Guiding light,” about the running partnership of Conant High School student Bella Nero, who is visually impaired, and Oriole track and field legend Andrea (Walkonen) Watkins, who returned to her former school to act as a guide runner for Nero. “Granite roots run deep,” a profile of Conant High School graduate Eva Hodgson’s University of North Carolina basketball journey, took third place.
Conant was also co-editor of the Granite State News Collaborative’s series on restorative justice, which took first place in crime/court reporting.
Saari received a first-place award in the non-daily category for spot news reporting, for “Flood waters rip through region,” a comprehensive coverage of torrential rainstorms in July of 2021 that caused damage to roads and private property in Jaffrey, Peterborough, Bennington and Antrim.
Saari also received a third-place prize in the health category for non-daily papers for “Forgotten heroes,” covering an installation of flags at the Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge representing soldiers and first responders who have died by suicide.
“It is an enormous honor to receive the N.H. Press Association’s general excellence award and individual awards. I am proud of Ben Conant and Ashley Saari and proud of our team,” Heather McKernan, Monadnock Ledger-Transcript publisher, said. “We have a talented and passionate group with a commitment to the community. As we work to bring readers the news they value and share the stories of the region, it’s rewarding and inspiring to be recognized for quality. Readers get our best work every day.”