About Us

An Award-Winning Local Newspaper

In the past five years, only once did staff at The Examiner fail to increase their annual trophy haul from the year before. Staff at the paper won two national awards (one first, one second) in 2018; four in 2019 (two third place, two honorable mentions); nine in 2020 (one first, five-second place, and three third place); and nine in 2021 (one first, three-second place, two third place, and two honorable mentions).

Among the 39 awards writers, editors, and designers at the paper have collected in the past five years, NNAF judges in 2021 voted The Examiner as the second-best weekly newspaper in the country, third best in 2019, and first in 2016.

“Excellent newspaper – it hit all the right buttons on the score sheet,” judges wrote in their 2021 assessment.

According to Dodd, awards, acclaim, and accolades in any form are simply a byproduct of The Examiner’s actual goals, which are to keep a watchful eye on the powerful, empower those without a voice, and inform all on important matters concerning the Southeast Texas community.

Here’s what other judges have had to say over the past five years:

“This paper is shining a light on local corruption – doing what good community newspapers ought to be doing. The writer was careful to document sources obtained through FOI requests,” wrote a judge in 2019, with another adding, “This is a very enjoyable paper that is well designed and easy to read. I found the story selection enjoyable and impactful.”

“Great coverage of the events. Very detailed information provided so that all readers were able to understand the story in its entirety,” wrote a 2020 judge.

“The writer did an amazing job on this story. The story was a very moving, feel-good community piece, and was very inspiring and motivational. The photos were nice as well, but I wanted a few more photos, like maybe having a photo spread page included with the story,” wrote a judge in 2021.