The Whitefish Pilot took home 15 awards and was named the best weekly newspaper in Montana for its circulation size at the Montana Newspaper Association awards banquet Saturday in Whitefish.

Included in the awards haul were seven first-place honors.

Pilot reporter Heidi Desch won first place in enterprise journalism for her reporting on safety concerns among some BNSF Railway employees. She also earned a second place in news reporting for her coverage of the City Hall construction project, and a third place for feature writing.

Pilot editor Matt Baldwin won first place for his coverage of the Whitefish High School sports teams. He also won a first place award for photography.

Ad designer Brenda Ritter won first place for the best online and print ad campaign.

The staff earned first place awards for best website and best front page. The special edition front page for the Bulldog football state championship won best page design.

The Pilot has won the Division 3 General Excellence award for best weekly in the state the past three years.

The Hungry Horse News, a sister newspaper to the Pilot, garnered first place in the Montana Newspaper Association’s annual awards for best niche publication for its book, “Through Glacier Park 1915-2015, a Centennial Celebration of a Classic Journey.”

“This is an absolutely stunning specialty publication,” the judges remarked.

The book was written, photographed and designed by editor Chris Peterson.

The newspaper also took third place for best special section for its annual Adventure Guide.

The annual awards banquet was held at Grouse Mountain Lodge. Alpine Theatre Project founder Luke Walrath served as guest emcee.

Montana Newspaper Association

2016 Better Newspaper Contest

June 11, 2016

First Place

Best Combination Print / Online Ad - Brenda Ritter

Best Page Layout and Design - Whitefish Pilot staff

Best Sports Story - Matt Baldwin

Best Lifestyles Photo - Matt Baldwin

Best Enterprise Journalism - Heidi Desch

Best Overall Website - Whitefish Pilot staff

Best Front Page - Whitefish Pilot staff

Second place

Best Editorial - Matt Baldwin

Best News Photo - Matt Baldwin

Best Lifestyle Coverage - Matt Baldwin

Best News Story - Heidi Desch

Third place

Best Feature Story - Heidi Desch

Best Feature Photo - Matt Baldwin

Best Image Building Ad - Brenda Ritter

Best Niche Publication - Whitefish Pilot staff

Top awards

Billing Gazette – The Sam Gilluly Award for Best Daily Newspaper in Montana

Flathead Beacon – The Thomas Dimsdale Award for Best Weekly Newspaper in Montana

Tom Bauer, Missoulian – Mel Ruder Photograph of the Year Award

The Big Timber Pioneer – Division 1 Newspaper General Excellence

West Yellowstone News – Division 2 Newspaper General Excellence

Whitefish Pilot – Division 3 Newspaper General Excellence

Flathead Beacon - Division 4 Newspaper General Excellence

Billings Gazette - Division 5 Newspaper General Excellence