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The Harpswell Anchor recently collected 21 honors, including awards for its photojournalism, sports writing, graphics and design, in an annual contest for Maine news organizations.
For the second year in a row, the Anchor was the runner-up for best print newspaper in its division.
“Good journalism and depth of coverage are two of this newspaper’s greatest assets,” the judges said. “Writing is top-notch.”
The Anchor competes with local news organizations from across the state in the Maine Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. News professionals from outside Maine judge the entries.
Bisi Cameron Yee, a freelance photojournalist and frequent contributor to the Anchor, won first place in the People Photo category for her shot of a young sailor, Calypso McNelly-Davis, in the rigging aboard her family’s excursion vessel, the schooner Alert.
“The richness of the color, the upward angle, the movement and the joy on this young lady’s face combine for a stellar shot,” the judges said.
Connie Sage Conner, a board member and regular contributor to the Anchor, took first place in the Sports News Story category and third place for Sports Headline for the story “Harpswell Neck boxer knocked out opponents — and discrimination.” The piece profiles former boxing champion Lisa Kuronya Coombs, who worked to establish equity between the men’s and women’s national teams.
“A trailblazer and groundbreaker giving back is already intriguing enough, but adding gender dynamics and courtroom heat into the equation pushes this one well over the top. … Connie’s work was downright masterful,” the judges said.
Sam Allen, the Anchor’s design and technology administrator, and Eric Zelz, a freelance illustrator and regular contributor, raked in awards for their work on the Anchor’s 2025 special report, “Cultivating the Coast: The Growth and Growing Pains of Aquaculture.”
Allen took first place in Specialty Page Design for the cover of the report, as well as second place in Front Page Design for the edition featuring the report. Zelz won the competition for graphics and illustrations for the third straight year for his two-page infographic mapping Harpswell’s sea farms.
The report also garnered Cameron Yee a second-place finish for food writing for the story “From river to sound, Harpswell oysters draw flavor from ‘the magic of the spot.'”
Allen and the Anchor’s executive director of development and operations, Janice Thompson, took another first place for the Anchor’s first-ever impact report.
Several Anchor staffers and contributors compiled multiple honors: Allen collected five; freelance photojournalist Troy R. Bennett three; and Cameron Yee, 2025 intern Sara Coughlin, and photojournalist Jim Gerberich two each.
The awards were announced during the Maine Press Association’s annual conference in South Portland on Oct. 17.
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.
A full list of Anchor honors follows:
First Place, Illustration/Graphic: “Aquaculture in Harpswell waters,” Eric Zelz
First Place, People Photo: “Young sailor,” Bisi Cameron Yee
First Place, Self-Promotion Initiative: 2025 Harpswell Anchor Impact Report, Sam Allen and Janice Thompson
First Place, Specialty Page Design: Cover, “Cultivating the Coast: The Growth and Growing Pains of Aquaculture,” Sam Allen
First Place, Sports News Story: “Harpswell Neck boxer knocked out opponents — and discrimination,” Connie Sage Conner
Second Place, Best Customized Advertising Solution: Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue, Sam Allen
Second Place, Advertising Campaign or Series: Jerold’s, Sam Allen
Second Place, Education Story: “Renovate or close? District seeks feedback on long-term options for Harpswell’s only public school,” J. Craig Anderson
Second Place, Feature Video: “Chainsaw sculptor crafts unique creation at HNPEA courts,” Sara Coughlin
Second Place, Food Story/Feature: “From river to sound, Harpswell oysters draw flavor from ‘the magic of the spot,'” Bisi Cameron Yee
Second Place, Front Page Design: August 2025, Sam Allen
Second Place, General Excellence – Print: Harpswell Anchor
Second Place, News Video: “What happens to Harpswell’s recyclables?” Jim Gerberich
Second Place, Outdoors Story: “5 years after fatal shark attack, life on the water in Harpswell hasn’t changed much,” Troy R. Bennett
Second Place, Picture Story: “Kids learn how to sail — and a lot more — at Orr’s Island school,” Jim Gerberich
Third Place, Coverage of Minority Community Issues: “Forgotten for decades, unearthed Inuit textiles tell ‘compelling’ story at Brunswick museum,” Kelli Park
Third Place, Feature Video: “Local man runs a lot and very far,” Troy R. Bennett
Third Place, General Excellence – Advertising: Harpswell Anchor
Third Place, News Photo: “Tuna Tournament,” Sara Coughlin
Third Place, Scenic Photo: “Mackerel Cove Fisherman,” Troy R. Bennett
Third Place, Sports Headline: “Harpswell Neck boxer knocked out opponents — and discrimination,” Connie Sage Conner
