Taos, NM – The Taos News celebrated a remarkable night at the New Mexico Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest gala on October 17, when the paper was named General Excellence winner in the Weekly Class I division. This marks the 25th General Excellence award the newspaper has received in the past 26 years, underscoring its long‑standing role as a trusted source for the Taos community.
Broad range of honors
In total, the Taos News staff took home 40 awards across a variety of categories. Reporter Olivia Lewis and editor Geoffrey Plant received the Sunshine Award for uncovering a years‑long kickback scheme within the Taos Municipal Schools District, a story that highlighted the paper’s commitment to accountability and transparency.
Photographer and videographer Clementine Miller earned top honors for multimedia work and sports photography, while reporter Emily Sender was recognized for storytelling that showcased local, ecologically‑friendly businesses joining forces for watershed restoration in southern Taos County.
Sports editor Blynn Beltran won several accolades, including first place for his column “Offseason” and the division’s #1 sports coverage award. Business writer Olivia Lewis also earned top honors for breaking news and business writing.
Digital, advertising and special sections
Digital editor Heather Owen was praised for the newspaper’s website and social‑media presence, reflecting the paper’s modern reach beyond print. The advertising team, led by Advertising Manager Chris Wood, Assistant Ad Manager Shane Atkinson, and Production Manager Sara Kollig, secured awards for best advertising campaign, innovative digital advertising, and retail advertising.
Classifieds manager Mary Chavez and colleague Sean Linton won first place for making the Taos News classifieds the most robust in Northern New Mexico. Publisher Chris Baker thanked readers, subscribers, and advertisers, noting that their support fuels the paper’s dedication to accurate and fair reporting.
Community impact
The awards ceremony, held at the Crowne Plaza Albuquerque, highlighted the newspaper’s deep roots in the community. The Taos News traces its lineage back to Padre Martinez’s El Crepúsculo in the late 19th century, and its continued excellence reflects a commitment to serving families, faith‑based readers, and all citizens who rely on trustworthy local news.
“Last year brought many hurdles for our editors and journalists, yet I am truly proud that we stood together and delivered news coverage our entire community can trust and celebrate,” Baker said. “I am grateful for the recognition from the New Mexico Press Association, but it is the encouragement from our subscribers, advertisers, and readers that fuels our commitment to accurate and fair reporting every single day.”
The Taos News’ achievements illustrate how a locally owned newspaper can thrive by focusing on investigative journalism, multimedia storytelling, and community engagement—values that align with the traditions of strong families and individual liberty cherished by its readership.
Original reporting: Taos News — read the source article.
