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Malheur Enterprise staff wins top state journalism honors

The Enterprise

The Malheur Enterprise last week won 10 awards from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association for journalism it published last year. That included finishing in first place in four categories in competition against other weekly newspapers in the state.

Reporter John L. Braese’s coverage of a fleeing suspect who got stuck in a badger hole earned him first place in spot news coverage. He also won first place in business coverage for his report on a Canadian firm’s scouting of Vale as a site for a new mushroom plant.

Braese won two awards for his coverage of a fatal house fire last year, taking second place for best news photo and third place for spot news coverage.

Reporter Pat Caldwell’s report on how a local woman went from homeless to housed earned him first place in personality features.

Publisher Les Zaitz won first place for best editorials and third place in photo essay. Scotta Callister, former publisher, took second place for best editorial page and third for best editorial. The paper earned third place for best page one design.

“These honors reflect the continuing commitment our staff has to delivering the highest quality journalism,” said Zaitz. “John and Pat demonstrate that every week, and these awards are fine recognition of their efforts to serve the community.”

Braese has been on the Enterprise for five years. Caldwell, a veteran newsman, joined the staff last year.

Zaitz and Callister through their newspaper company bought the Enterprise in October 2015. Callister was publisher from then until October 2016. The paper was founded in 1909 and has operated in Vale since then.

Its sister paper, the Keizertimes, which won 12 awards from ONPA, including four first-place showings. The Keizer weekly was third in general excellence, an award recognizing the overall quality of the newspaper.