Boulder City Review earns 15 awards in Better Newspaper Contest

The Boulder City Review staff earned 15 awards, including five first-place honors, in the Nevada Press Association's annual Better Newspaper Contest.

Editor Hali Bernstein Saylor received four awards, including the top award for best local column.

"I am so pleased and honored to be recognized and see our staff members recognized. We put our best efforts into each issue of the Boulder City Review," she said.

In their comments about Bernstein Saylor's award for her column, judges wrote "Great writing. Love the sense of community in your writing, too."

Former staff writer Steven Slivka was named a Journalist of Merit, an award given to writers who have five or fewer years of professional experience.

"Being named Journalist of Merit is an absolute honor, especially since this state has so many reporters worthy of the award," Slivka said. "Journalists don't do their jobs for the recognition or the spotlight. We do it to ensure that the public knows what's going on around them. Still, it feels great knowing that all of your hard work doesn't go unnoticed."

The judges called Slivka a "versatile reporter. Steven seems comfortable with all kinds of assignments and the stories show he's more than capable at each."

In all, he was presented with seven awards.

"It is great to see the hard work of our news team being recognized by the industry," said Jason Taylor, publisher of the Boulder City Review and president of GateHouse Media's Western U.S. Publishing Operations.

Winners were announced Friday during a banquet at the Nevada Press Convention at the Sparks Nugget.

Other awards earned by the staff were:

— Best Overall Design, staff, first place.

— Best Business News Story, Steven Slivka, first and second place.

— Best Sports Story, Steven Slivka, first place.

— Best Explanatory Journalism, Steven Slivka, second place.

— Best News Photo Coverage, Hali Bernstein Saylor, second place.

— Best Headline Writing, Hali Bernstein Saylor, second place.

— Best Nonstaff Story, Andy Saylor, second place.

— Best Feature Story, Steven Slivka, second place.

— General Excellence, staff, third place.

— Best Portrait, Hali Bernstein Saylor, third place.

— Best Sports Feature, Pedro Fonteboa, third place.

— Best Spot News Story, Steven Slivka, third place.