The best of 2023 with awards, growth and, best of all, stories about Oregon

HereisOregon.com - December 18, 2023 - As we look ahead to what is on the horizon for Here is Oregon in 2024, we can’t help but smile. Here is Oregon is officially two years old and what began as a project born out of the COVID-19 pandemic has grown to a platform Oregonians know to turn to when they want to dive deep into good stories worth sharing.  

We are proud to say we’ve grown as a media platform, reached new audiences and explored corners of our state — all in the name of sharing the good.  

We deliver the good news, including the events, experiences, destinations and stories across myriad platforms so you can stay up to date with the news worth sharing. 

Follow Here is Oregon to find out all that our state has to offer. We’re continuing to expand our social media presence. We’re now on TikTok and have revamped our presence on YouTube. In 2023, we’ve seen a 77% growth across all social platforms, with a total follower count of nearly 150,000.  

Looking for more ways to engage? You can incorporate all the latest happenings into your workflow by signing up for the Here is Oregon newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox every Friday. Kick-off the weekend by skimming a quick round-up of our week’s top stories, including weekend festivals, fairs and other events you need to know.  

Our newsletter subscriptions have jumped 49% and we’re proud to say we’re delivering the good to more than 22,000 inboxes each week. Stay up to date by signing up here.  

Of course, for all the good news content, you’ll want to bookmark HereisOregon.com and join the more than 1.5 million visitors throughout the year. Some of our year’s top trending stories include:  

We know that Oregon has a lot to offer, and we’re excited to dig deep into the stories of the people, places and experiences that make our state incredible. Our work of delivering good news each and every day would not be possible without the support of our 2023 partners, including NW Natural, Subaru, Travel Oregon and a long list of sponsors who have trusted us to tell their story. 

We were lucky enough to tell 109 stories with our sponsors in 2023, covering everything from empowering Latinas in Washington County and essential mosquito research in Baker Valley to the best summer fairs to find a buckin’ bronco. Take a trip down memory lane here. 

Store to Door proves it’s more than just a service — it’s a lifeline of hope. They continue to show us all that even the smallest act of empathy can make a significant impact on the lives of those around us. Photo courtesy of NW Natural

The Here is Oregon Subaru Outback travels to Cycle Oregon’s 2023 gravel ride. Photo by Larissa Gordon

Each of our partners shares our mission of supporting good news designed to inform and inspire. Read one example of how Subaru supports Make-A-Wish Oregon throughout the year, how Travel Oregon led us down a path studded with wildflowers, and how NW Natural partners with a nonprofit elevating accessibility to quality food for senior citizens.  

Our partner’s unwavering support and our sponsor’s willingness to let us tell their stories have resulted in pieces that have been recognized far and wide as compelling.  

Rick’s Custom Fencing, one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest locally owned fencing and decking providers, was a regular collaborator.  They sponsored a newsroom coverage of the beloved tradition of the Garibaldi Crab Races, which won first place for the best multimedia element at the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association 2023 Better Newspaper Awards.  

Our dedicated team of journalists was recognized at the national Society of Features Journalism contest, winning 7 awards for work that ranged from the Oregon Coast in Vickie Connor’s Circles in the Sand piece, which took second place, to the Rose City in Tom Hallman’s outrageously lovable, “Their little parrot was thought to be a goner after he flew away in downtown Portland,” which took first place in the general features category.  

The Oregonian/OregonLive newsroom also received 31 awards at the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association 2023 Better Newspaper Content. 

Mike Rogoway won the public service award for his series of stories on Google’s lack of transparency surrounding just how much water from the Columbia River they were using to cool their data centers in The Dalles. Other first-place awards went to Beth Nakamura and Samantha Swindler for education coverage in their piece “The Safest Place,” and Lizzy Acker’s best personality feature of Marjorie Sharp.  

Here is Oregon is powered by The Oregonian/OregonLive and is a part of Oregonian Media Group. From the entirety of our staff, we thank our partners for continuing to trust us to tell their story and empowering us to continue to tell the stories of others. We look forward to sharing the good in 2024, and beyond, alongside you.