The Columbian has brought home many awards for journalism and photography throughout the years. Here in a non-comprehensive list of our more recent accolades.

Associated Press Photo Awards

2020
First place, Non-metro Photo Story
2019 and 2020 Cowles Cup

NPPA Best of Photojournalism

2020
Sony Best in Show award

Society of Professional Journalists

Individual staff awards

Photo & Design

2024
Large Newsroom Division
Print page design
First Place, Romana Wood
2023
Large Newsroom Division
Graphics and Illustrations
First Place, Romana Wood
Second Place, Merridee Hanson
Print page design
Second Place, Amy Libby
Portrait photography
Second place, Taylor Balkom
2022
Large Newsroom Division
Feature Photography
Second Place, Last Day Covid School, Amanda Cowan
Print page design
First place, Merridee Hanson
Second Place, Amy Libby
Graphics and illustration
First place, Romana Wood
Second Place, Merridee Hanson
2021
Medium Newsroom Division
Feature Photography
First place, Health Care Worker Tribute, Amanda Cowan
General new photography
Second place, Peterson BLM Vigil, Amanda Cowan
Portrait photography
Second place, COVID homeless camp, Amanda Cowan
Page Design
First place, Amy Libby
Second Place, Merridee Hanson

Writing

2024
Large Newsroom Division
Feature-Soft News
First Place, "Freedom in fins"; Monika Spykerman
Sports Feature
First Place, "Ukrainian teens find solace in soccer," Meg Wochnick
Sports Reporting
First place, "Evergreen to cut athletic directors; Athletic directors react to layoffs”, Meg Wochnick
Business & Economics Reporting
Second Place, "Stores suppress shoplifters." Sarah Wolf, Becca Robbins
2023
Large Newsroom Division
Breaking News team coverage
First place, Nikia Creek fire coverage, Becca Ribbins, Griffin Reilly, Nike Bartoo-Smith, Jessica Prokop, Kelsey Turner, Kelly Moyer.
Sports column writing
First Place, Tim Martinez
Editorial & Commentary
Second Place, Greg Jayne
LGBTQ+ & equity reporting
Second place, Opposition to drag queen story hours roils FVRLibraries, Griffin Reilly
Series writing
Second Place, “From Kabul to Clark County.” Scott Hewitt
2022
Large Newsroom Division
Editorial & Commentary
First Place, In Our View Series, Colleen
Education Reporting
First Place: Distance learning has many Clark County students not making the grade, Meg Wochnick
Environment & Natural Disaster Reporting
Second Place, From dust to dust — to compost, Will Campbell
Poverty & Homelessness reporting
Second Place, Renovation of former Value Motel paves long road to recovery, Dylan Jefferies
Technology, Business & Economics reporting
Second Place, Herbert J. paved the way, Will Campbell
2021
Medium Newsroom Division
Sports Reporting
First Place, Virus's Blindside Block, Meg Wochnick and Joshua Hart
Editorial & Commentary
First Place, In Our View Series, Colleen
Sports columns
Second Place, Tim Martinez
Crime & law enforcement reporting
Second place, Confined with COVID?, Jessica Prokop

Writing, Photo & Design

2020
Medium Newsroom Division
Breaking News Reporting
First Place, 1 dead, 2 wounded in shooting; Trauma specialists' training put to test; Shooting timeline, Jessica Prokop, Calley Hair, Kaitlin Gillespie, Jack Heffernan
Business Reporting
First Place, "Coffee roasters 'piece of history' in Yacolt", Will Campbell
Runner Up, "Vigor Selects Vancouver" Series, Alan Brettman
Column
Runner Up, "Working in Clark County column", Lyndsey Hewitt
Diversity Reporting
Runner Up, "VPS Student Discipline Series", Kaitlin Gillespie
Feature Writing, Hard News
First Place, "For Vancouver man, every day is a chance to make a difference", Wyatt Stayner
Feature Writing, Soft News
First Place, "The monks of white salmon", Patty Hastings
Graphics & Illustration
First Place, Romana Wood
Photo Portfolio
First Place, Nathan Howard
Reporting Series
Runner Up, "Flores Family Series", Jessica Prokop
Sports Feature
First Place, "Rally from Despair", Meg Wochnick
2019
Large Newsroom Division
Best Photo Portfolio
First Place, Alisha Jucevic
Business Reporting
Runner up The Waterfront Vancouver setting sail, Allan Brettman
Feature Photography
Runner up, Cherry Blossoms, Alisha Jucevic
Food, Drink, Lifestyles and Travel Reporting
Runner up, Hiking the Washington Side, plus “Foot traffic not the only kind…”, Scott Hewitt
Graphics & Illustrations
First place, Confronting the high cost of justice; “Can’t have two tigers on the hill”; Midterms will reveal area’s true colors, Merridee Hanson
Runner up, 9,095: Clark outpaces Multnomah County for new residents; Two decades of dreams; Who gave it, who got it? Romana Wood
Page Design
First place, To combat winter blues, try seeing red; Spruce up the environment; A determined stand (with jump), Dave Magnuson
Runner up, A day to take off; 30 years strong; Shifting sand (with jumps), Romana Wood
Photo Essay
First Place, A Determined Stand, Alisha Jucevic Runner up, A new home, Nathan Howard
Portrait Photography
First place, Nathan Kunz, Nathan Howard
Sports Feature Photography
First Place, National Anthem, Nathan Howard
2018
Large Newsroom Division
Best Photo Portfolio
Runner Up, Alisha Jucevic
Business Reporting
First place, Finding care can be a pain, Marissa Harshman
Sports Feature Story
First place, Hole in One from Hudson, Micah Rice
Runner Up, Unbroken, Meg Wochnick
Feature Photography
Runner Up, Elizabeth Nicholson holding horse’s head during the wildfire, Ariane Kunze
Sports Feature Photography
First place, Oct. 1, Amanda Cowan
Page Design
Runner Up, Amy Libby
Graphics & Illustrations
First place, Mariel Abbene
Editorial & Commentary
First Place, Greg Jayne
Arts & Entertainment
Runner Up, Raining Poetry, Scott Hewitt
Audio, Video
Runner Up, One-legged baseball player takes challenges in stride, Ariane Kunze

Award for General Excellence

2020 Runner up
2019 Runner up
2018 Runner up
2015 Third place
2013 Second place
2012 Second place
2006
First place (first year for the general excellence category)

Local Media Association

Digital Innovation Awards

2023
First Place, Best Philanthropy Journalism and/or Fundraising Campaign

C.B. Blethen Memorial Awards

2019
First place, Enterprise Reporting
First place, Distinguished Coverage of Diversity
First place, Features Writing
Second place, Deadline Reporting
Third place, Enterprise Reporting
Third place, Debby Lowman Award for Distinguished Reporting of Consumer Affairs
Third place, Distinguished Coverage of Diversity
2018
First place, Features Writing
Second place, Distinguished Coverage of Diversity
2017
First place, Feature Writing
Second place, Enterprise Reporting
Second place, Feature Writing
Second place, Debby Lowman Award for Distinguished Reporting of Consumer Affairs
Third place, Debby Lowman Award for Distinguished Reporting of Consumer Affairs
2016
First place, Investigative Reporting
Second place, Deadline Reporting
Third place, Distinguished Coverage of Diversity
Third place, Debby Lowman Award for Distinguished Reporting of Consumer Affairs
Third place, Feature Writing
2015
First place, Investigative Reporting
First place, Distinguished Coverage of Diversity
First place, Debby Lowman Award for Distinguished Reporting of Consumer Affairs
2014
First place, Distinguished Coverage of Diversity
First place, Debby Lowman Award for Distinguished Reporting of Consumer Affairs
Second place, Deadline Reporting
Second place, Features Writing
2013
First place, Deadline Reporting
First place, Enterprise Reporting
First place, Debby Lowman Award for Distinguished Reporting of Consumer Affairs
2012
First place, Enterprise Reporting
Second place, Enterprise Reporting

Best of the West

Prestigious competition among journalists in 14 states

2020
Second place