Mail Tribune wins state public service award

The Mail Tribune in Medford, Ore., in competition with newspapers of all sizes, received the lone public service award from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. It was one of 16 awards received by the newspaper. The public service award came for coverage of the proposed closure of Jackson School in Medford. Judges cited the reporting of Mail Tribune education reporter Paris Achen as well as subsequent editorial opinions in announcing the award. Jackson School's closure had been proposed as a budget-cutting measure, but the idea was scuttled after several meetings among city officials and a strong show of support for the school by the public.

The Mail Tribune took first place in five categories among the state's largest newspapers in the ONPA's 2007 Better Newspaper Contest. The paper earned first-place honors for graphics, photography, sports writing, religion coverage and the special section "Our Valley: Would You Believe?" Produced in April 2006, the annual section also won first place last year.

The Mail Tribune is part of Ottaway Newspapers Inc., the Local Media Group of Dow Jones & Company.

Contact:

Ottaway Newspapers, Inc.
97 Route 416
PO Box 401
Campbell Hall, NY 10916

Ken Hall, Corporate Communications
845-346-3182