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The Juneau Empire garnered 13 awards from the Alaska Press Club in a wide range of categories including reporting, photography, design, cartoons, online reporting and video. The awards were presented Saturday at a banquet in Anchorage.

Pat Forgey took first place in the Vern McCorkle Award for business reporting for his piece "Losing Power," detailing the energy crisis sparked by April 2008 avalanches that took out transmission lines near the Snettisham hydroelectric project. "All of this was told in clear writing that was easily understandable, yet did not pander to the reader," wrote judge Peter Sleeth.

Forgey also took third place for best government or political reporting for his article, "Nation's image of Palin differs from Alaskans." "Forgey presents the story within days of Gov. Palin's selection as running mate for John McCain and probably captures the thoughts of Alaskans who were scratching their heads about outsiders' comments about Palin," wrote judge Carla Kimbrough. "A must-do story handled well."

Kate Golden received an honorable mention for best environmental reporting for her piece, "Dirty Old Mines." "This was a solid look at a widespread and significant environmental problem," judge Robert McClure wrote.

Kim Marquis took second place for best series for her reporting in, "The Quiet Tragedy: Teen Suicide in Juneau." "An excellent job showing the pain of teen suicide through the voices of parents and friends," wrote judge David Cuillier.

Cartoonist Tony "Toe" Newman took third place in the cartoon category. "Pointed commentary with a nice dose of humor," wrote judge John Trever.

Jill Homer took second place in page layout and design for the Empire's Nov. 4, 2008, general election issue. "On a big day for election news, the designer blends photography, graphics and headlines in a manner that allows the reader to gradually take in the page while still receiving the full impact of the occasion," wrote judge Adrian Johnson.

Photographer Michael Penn won first place scenic photo for "Backflip," a photograph of a skier at Eaglecrest Ski Area. "Almost perfect," judge Randy Cox wrote. "The exactness of the moment of flip caught. The height above all manly things. The cloud cover and rising mountainscape in the background. Add to that a whiff of snow fluttering behind the airborne ski-daredevil and it's all there."

Penn also received a second-place award for best portrait for "Chilton" and third place for best feature photo for "Deadeyes," which accompanied Marquis' "Quiet Tragedy" series.

The Juneau Empire's new media department received a second-place award for online breaking news for "Selection May Shake Up State and Nation." "This article provides great immediate analysis of how the Palin VP candidacy will affect Alaska politics - particularly in its prescient prediction it might help Stevens and Young," wrote judge Marcy Wheeler.

The new media department received second place in online video journalism for "Young Science." "It was a well-told 'mini-story' within the story, which I found to be a creative use of resources to drive more readers to the story and the newspaper," wrote judge Julia Yarbough.

The Empire also received the third-place award in this category for "Smithsonian Bound."

The new media department also received second-place for online coverage of a single topic for "Quiet Tragedy." "In a dignified and serious news package, the Juneau Empire brings to its online community a deeply troubling story - and tells it with compassion, and with the opportunity to make Juneau's voices heard," wrote judge Tom Watson.