In its first year of eligibility, the new Harpswell Anchor earned recognition in 10 categories of the Maine Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest for 2021-22.

The Anchor captured notice for both its journalism and its business practices, placing second in the categories of General Excellence — Print, Arts/Lifestyle Feature, Best New Revenue Idea, Editorial Cartoonist and Outdoors Story; and taking third in Freedom of Information, Health Story, News Story, Religion/Spirituality Story and Self-Promotion.

Anchor staffers collected the honors during the Maine Press Association’s annual awards banquet at the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel and Event Center in Bar Harbor on Oct. 22. The banquet caps the association’s conference, a full day of professional development and talks about industry trends.

The Better Newspaper Contest divides newspapers into three divisions: dailies and large and small weeklies, by circulation. The Anchor competes in the division for large weeklies. Newspaper professionals from outside Maine judge the entries.

Established in 1864, the Maine Press Association works to protect the freedom of the press and the public’s right to know, and to promote and foster high ethical standards in journalism.

The list of Anchor honors follows:

Second Place, Arts/Lifestyle Feature: “The Harpswell Sound: How four young mothers became local celebrities,” Sam Allen

Second Place, Best New Revenue Idea: 2021 NewsMatch challenge, Janice Thompson

Second Place, Editorial Cartoonist: Tom Brudzinski

Second Place, General Excellence — Print

Second Place, Outdoors Story: “Accessible to all, Strawberry Creek section of Cliff Trail reopens after half-year of construction,” J.W. Oliver

Third Place, Freedom of Information: “MSAD 75 releases assignment at center of board complaints,” J.W. Oliver

Third Place, Health Story: “Cundy’s Harbor 10-year-old looks forward to life after leukemia, 5 years after original diagnosis,” J.W. Oliver

Third Place, News Story: “MSAD 75 releases assignment at center of board complaints,” J.W. Oliver

Third Place, Religion/Spirituality Story: “Dingley Island cancer survivor founds charity to help others,” Doug Warren

Third Place, Self-Promotion: 2021 annual report, Janice Thompson