The California Newspaper Publishers Association has honored the North Coast Journal for award-winning work in eight categories this year, ranging from investigative reporting to feature writing, from cartooning to graphic illustration.

We just got the CNPA awards notice in the mail late last week, and there are lots of congratulations to go around in this year's Better Newspapers Contest.

Ryan Burns won first or second place, to be announced in June, in three categories: coverage of local government ("To Redeem a Felon"), investigative reporting ("Don't Bother Coming In") and writing ("Fight").

The enitire editorial team won a first or second place, to be announced in June, for breaking news with its June 2012 election coverage ("The Money, The Future, The Vote").

And we are always proud of our "certificates of achievement," awarded to runners-up who were in the top 10 percent for their category:

Carrie Peyton Dahlberg for investigative reporting ("Going Once") and coverage of the environment ("Dairy Diary").

Holly Harvey for graphic illustration. (Update: The link is now here for "Shellfish Cultivation in Humboldt Bay.")

Scottie Lee Meyers for a feature story ("The Mormon Moment").

Joel Mielke for editorial cartooning ("What bumper stickers mean" and "The everlasting blessing of the season").