Smoke Signals wins four Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association awards

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

Smoke Signals received four awards – one first, two seconds and one third place – during the 139th annual Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Summer Convention held Friday, July 24, at the Salem Convention Center.

The awards in the Associate Member category were given for work published in 2025.

Smoke Signals Photojournalist/Assistant Editor Michelle Alaimo received first and second place awards for best news photo. Page Designer Justin Phillips took second place in the page design category and Graphic Designer Samuel Briggs III received a third-place award in the graphics category.

“I’m thrilled with the excellent work Smoke Signals employees produced in 2025,” Editorial Board Chair Mia Prickett said. “I’m so thankful that we have an independent Tribal press ordinance in place that allows the newspaper to do this work for our people. It’s especially important during these uncertain times and I look forward to Smoke Signals winning more awards in the future.”

Smoke Signals was once again the only Tribal newspaper honored in the regional competition, which includes newspapers from Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

Earlier this summer, Smoke Signals won three awards from the Indigenous Journalists Association, including first place awards for radio/podcast and layout categories.

Smoke Signals has now won 146 state, regional and national journalism awards.