For outstanding commitment
and achievement 

These awards are presented during WNPA conventions, at the discretion of the WNPA Board of Trustees.

Miles Turnbull Master Editor/Publisher Award
Past Honorees 

The WNPA Board of Trustees created the Master Editor/Publisher Award in 1993 to honor an active editor or publisher who has worked hard and unselfishly and made a significant contribution to his or her newspaper, community and state, as well as to WNPA. Selection criteria also include service to a free press or freedom of information and to the cause of community newspapers.

In 1994 the Board of Trustees renamed the award in recognition of Miles Turnbull, who died during that year. Miles was a quintessential community newspaper publisher, a past president of WNPA and former WNPA executive director.

The award includes a plaque and a WNPA $500 donation to the charity of the recipient's choice. A companion plaque showing all recipients hangs in the WNPA office. 

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Walter C. Woodward Freedom's Light Award

Past Honorees

The Freedom's Light was created by Washington Newspaper Publishers Association in 1995 to honor individuals who have protected or advanced the First Amendment in Washington state, a critical aspect of which is access to public information.

In 2008 this award was renamed in honor of the 1998 recipient, Walter Carlson Woodward. Woodward, publisher of the Bainbridge Island Review during World War II, made journalism history with his passionate, eloquent stand against the internment of 240 of his Bainbridge Island neighbors during the early months of World War II. Their only "crime" was their Japanese ancestry.

As the rest of America, and virtually every other journalist, watched silently, a total of 110,000 Japanese Americans living along the West Coast were rounded up and jailed in prison camps scattered around remote areas of the West for the duration of the war. Woodward editorialized against this injustice and published regular reports from his neighbors imprisoned in the internment camp in Manzanar, Calif. Woodward and Millie, his wife and close business partner, owned the Review from 1940 to 1963. Millie Woodward died in 1999, and Walt Woodward in 2001.

The Walter C. Woodward Freedom's Light Award recognizes a person who has been unwavering in his or her support and practice of the First Amendment. It honors someone who not only believes in the freedom of the press, but who has worked hard and consistently to protect and advance it.

In addition to Woodward, it has been presented to attorneys and elected officials who have devoted their careers to protecting public access to government proceedings.

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Dixie Lee Bradley Award

Past Honorees 

Dixie Lee Bradley served members for 45 years as associate director of WNPA. This award, conceived in 1996, symbolizes her devotion to and passion for community newspapers. It recognizes newspaper staff members who work long and hard, often behind the scenes, to see that the best possible community newspaper is produced and distributed each week.

Among the selection criteria is a demonstrated record of consistent, quality work over a considerable time period in any facet of the community newspaper industry, from production and circulation through front office support. Staff members in positions such as photographer and advertising sales are not eligible because these people can be recognized in WNPA's Better Newspaper Contest.

Winners receive an engraved clock and a cash prize of $500. The nominating newspaper and WNPA each contribute $250 to the award. 

• 2011    Manfred Tempelmayr, Sound Publishing Inc.
• 2010    No award given
• 2009    Dave Pinkham, Stanwood/Camano News
• 2007    John L. Fournier Jr., publisher, Prosser Record-Bulletin,
              Grandview Herald
• 2006    Ted Grossman, editor, Islands' Sounder, Eastsound
• 2005    Scott Wilson, publisher, Port Townsend-
              Jefferson County Leader
• 2004    No award given
• 2003    Deborah L. Berto, publisher, Issaquah Press
• 2002    No award given
• 2001    Jerry Robinson, Robinson Newspapers
• 2000    Jane Meyer, general manager, Mercer Island Reporter
• 1999    Thomas C. Taylor, publisher, Peninsula Gateway, Gig Harbor
• 1998    James Flint, publisher, Toppenish Review, Wapato Independent
• 1997    Jeffrey G. Fletcher, publisher, Grant County Journal, Ephrata
• 1996    Henry G. Gay, publisher, Shelton-Mason County Journal
• 1995    John E. Andrist, co-publisher, Omak-Okanogan
              County Chronicle
• 1994    Frank W. Garred, co-publisher, Port Townsend-
              Jefferson County Leader

WALTER C. WOODWARD FREEDOM'S LIGHT AWARD PAST HONOREES

• 2011    No award given
  
• 2010    No award given
• 2009    Frank Garrred, former publisher of Port Towsend-
              Jefferson County Leader
• 2008    Justice Richard B. Sanders, State Supreme Court
• 2007    Lynn Kessler, State Representative, Hoquiam
• 2007    Rob McKenna, Washington Attorney General
• 2006    Toby Nixon, State Representative, Kirkland
• 2005    No award given
• 2004    Judge C. Kenneth Grosse, Washington Court of Appeals
• 2003    Ronal Serpas, Chief, Washington State Patrol
• 2002    Adam Kline, State Senator, Seattle
• 2001    Clyde Ballard, Speaker of the House
• 2000    Brian Sonntag, State Auditor
• 1999    Michael Killeen, Davis Wright Tremaine
• 1998    Walt C. Woodward, former publisher and editor,
              Bainbridge Island Review
• 1997    Former U.S. House Speaker Thomas Foley
• 1996    Retired Chief Justice James A. Andersen
• 1995    Cal Anderson, State Senator, Seattle

DIXIE LEE BRADLEY AWARD PAST HONOREES

• 2011  Linda Chittim, Beacon Publishing, Mukilteo
  
• 2010  Lavonne Saunders, Ritzville-Adams County Journal
  
• 2008  Patti Rydeen, Stanwood/Camano News
• 2007  Rhonda Dicksion, Monroe Monitor/Valley News
• 2005  Marilyn Bardin, Methow Valley News, Twisp
• 2004  Betty Grewell, Port Townsend-Jefferson County Leader
• 2001  Renné Duke, Monroe Monitor/Valley News
• 2000  JoAnn Anderson, Cashmere Valley Record
• 1998  Nellie Williams, Whidbey News-Times, Oak Harbor
• 1997  Elizabeth Widel, Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle

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