It has been a winning year for newspapers and websites that are part of the Metroland North Media division – and we would like to briefly blow our own horn.

Our journalists have garnered more than 40 awards for their work in 2007 in four annual competitions, continuing a longtime winning tradition for central Ontario newspapers.

The contests are separately co-ordinated by Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA), Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA), Suburban Newspaper Association (SNA) and by our parent company, Metroland Media Group Ltd.

The competitions offer newspapers a chance to have their work judged by industry professionals in many categories, such as photography, writing, design and advertising.

OCNA awards for Metroland North Media newspapers include two for the Barrie Advance for best editorial and best in-house promotion; the Huntsville Forester for general excellence; Alliston Herald for a business and finance story; Orillia Today for best humour column by Frank Matys and best feature, also by Matys, as well as best original ad idea; Midland Mirror for original ad idea; Parry Sound North Star and Beacon Star for environment story, cartoon, technically-enhanced photo and feature photo; Burk's Falls Almaguin Forester for feature story, rural story, editorial, and creative advertising; Collingwood Connection/Wasaga Sun for creative advertising.

While judging in some categories of the CCNA awards has been delayed, the Huntsville Forester and Bracebridge Examiner have already been honoured for best all-round newspaper and Huntsville also won for best front page.

The SNA competitions, open to member newspapers across North America, saw Barrie Advance reporter Julie DeBruin honoured for environmental writing and Advance design editor Joe Mercer singled out for graphic artwork.

Mercer also did well in the Metroland awards, winning three awards for art direction, photo layout and design for three different projects.

Advance municipal reporter Laurie Watt and Orillia Today reporter Frank Matys each also picked up three awards from Metroland; Watt for President’s Award for community involvement, best blog and best beat reporter, and Matys for best columnist, best news story and best feature photo.

Advance sports and entertainment editor Jim Barber earned two mentions, for best editorial in the Midland Mirror and best web-only story.

Midland Mirror editor Lori Martin is a winner with best news story and shares best art direction of Sideroads magazine with Penni Ellwood.

Back at The Advance, best news story honours go to Glenn Wilkins, Julie DeBruin and Stan Howe for their work on a murder story in Barrie.

Rick Vanderlinde, editor of the Innisfil Journal, is honoured for best editorial.

Kim Goggins, formerly of the Midland Mirror, is nominated for best spot news photo.

Best profile awards are in the works for Stephannie Johnson of the Parry Sound North Star and Karen Hood-Caddy of Beyond The City, while Cody Storm Cooper of Parry Sound wins for best sports photo and best feature photo. Kevin Powless of Parry Sound earns separate design and art direction honours and our newspapers in Gravenhurst and Parry Sound have been mentioned for their great front pages.

Vice-president and regional publisher Joe Anderson heads up Metroland North Media.