The Redmond Reporter recently took home three Better Newspaper Contest Awards from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association (WNPA).

Creative designer Joan Freeman earned second place for Best Promotion of Newspaper, Single Advertisement for her “It’s a Special Brew” advertisment, which promoted the content of the Redmond Reporter.

Reporter Mary Stevens Decker won third place for Best Comprehensive Coverage for last February’s “Looking for Love” series, which explored ways different people were finding romance in their lives.

Photographer Katherine Ganter also was awarded third place for Best Feature Photo for her heart-warming shot of Richard Thomas, an inspirational speaker, hugging Jordan Sabine, a student at Stella Schola, after Thomas gave his uplifting presentation to the students.

Washington Newspaper Publishers Association is an advocate for community newspapers, freedom of the press and open government. WNPA represents about 130 community newspapers in Washington state. It is the successor to the Washington Press Association, founded in 1887 by newspapers in Dayton, Ellensburg, Seattle, Tacoma, Yakima and Walla Walla.