Half Moon Bay Review has been judged the third best small weekly in the nation

The Half Moon Bay Review has been judged the third best small weekly in the nation and the best in its class in California.

On April 27, the California Newspaper Publishers Association announced the newspaper was its General Excellence winner among weekly newspapers of similar sizes. It is the first time the newspaper has been so honored in at least a decade. The newspaper also took the top prize for best front page, best overall design and best photo essay.

The newspaper took second place for editorial comment, for an editorial urging the Coastside Fire Protection District to keep its Cal Fire contract, for a Mark Noack feature story about a spear fisherman, and in the artistic photo category for a Charles Russo photo of a surfer coming out of the mist.

"It's nice to take a step back and get an objective view from our newspaper peers and professionals in the industry. And they all agree: The Half Moon Bay Review is one of the best newspapers around," said Publisher Bill Murray, who was in Los Angeles for the awards banquet. "There are more than 700 newspapers in the CNPA and the one category they all enter is General Excellence."

Separately, the newspaper took third place in the Local Media Association's Newspaper of the Year contest. That award was announced earlier in the week. The association has members across the United States and Canada and the Review's division included newspapers with nearly twice the circulation and staff. The award considers the entire newspaper, from editorial coverage to the effectiveness of advertising.