The Renton Reporter won eight awards Saturday in the 2008 Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Better Newspaper Contest.

The Reporter competed in the largest circulation group, Group IV, for Washington newspapers with a circulation of 10,001 and over. Thirty-one newspapers belong to this circulation group. The Renton Reporter has a 31,400 circulation. The Renton Reporter competed against all four circulation groups in the Best Headlines category.

Renton Reporter winners:

• Emily Garland: Second place, Lifestyle Feature, Long, “Pho? Duh.”

• Dean Radford: First place, Best Headlines, “Don’t let those hello kitty socks fool you;” Second place, Best Headlines, “No, that’s Don. No, that’s Doug;” Third place, Best General Interest Column, “This is an easy one;” Finalist, News Writer of the Year.

• Fumiko Yarita: Third place, Best Photo Essay/Picture Page, Color, “No denying Hazen Boys;” Second place, Best Sports Photo — Non-Action, Color, “Hazen takes soccer title.”

• Matt Brashears: Third place, Best Sports Photo — Non-Action, Color, “Hello Kitty socks.”

The Louisiana Press Association judged this year’s WNPA contest.

Winners were chosen from 2,837 entries submitted by 80 member newspapers. Winners were announced at the Better Newspaper Contest Awards Dinner at WNPA’s 121st annual convention Oct. 2-4 at the Red Lion Hotel-Yakima Center.