CNHI News Service
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.
April 14, 2008 09:37 am
—
An effort to document stories of tragedy, drama and eventual hope 30 years after a deadly flood helped earn The Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown, Pa., a Newspaper of the Year award in Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.s annual journalism competition.
Results of the contest recognizing individual and team journalism at CNHI newspapers during 2007 were announced today. Thirteen senior editors considered nearly 750 entries submitted in three circulation divisions. The judges named winners and finalists in 29 categories.
Based in Birmingham, CNHI operates daily and non-daily newspapers in more than 150 communities throughout the United States.
The Tribune-Democrat won top honors for newspapers with daily circulations of 12,000 or more. Judges called it a comprehensive newspaper with a strong voice. They noted its commitment to connecting with readers and finding ways to get their stories into the newspaper. This was especially so in a project that catalogued memories of those who survived the July 1977 flood, which killed 85 people. A newspaper series led to a commemorative book and DVD.
Everything it presents just has a community feel, a sense of place, the judges wrote of the newspaper.
Above all, it is really working hard to support its community, which has had its share of struggles. The Tribune-Democrat plays a strong leadership role. It will help Johnstown find a good future.
The Gloucester (Mass.) Daily Times won a Newspaper of the Year award in the division for dailies with circulations less than 12,000. Judges cited its strong local coverage and compelling reporting about a devastating fire in downtown Gloucester. The Sentinel-Echo, of London, Ky., won its second consecutive Newspaper of the Year award in the division for non-dailies. Judges noted its attractive design and efforts to dig deeper into topics important to its readers.
CNHI judges gave a Magazine of the Year award for the first time, honoring Johnstown Magazine for its strong features and community focus. Judges also named two Web Sites of the Year Ottumwa.com, the online home of the Ottumwa (Iowa) Courier, and Reporter.net, produced by the newsroom of the Lebanon (Ind.) Reporter. In each case, judges noted the Web sites commitment to covering breaking news with frequently updated stories and multimedia presentations.
In addition to Newspaper of the Year, The Tribune-Democrat won a prestigious Public Service Award for an investigation into substandard housing and the lax government regulation that abets it. The Greenville (Texas) Herald-Banner won the award for smaller dailies for stories about the construction defects in a five-year-old, $14 million jail. The Leeds (Ala.) News won the Public Service Award among non-dailies for documenting animal control issues in its community.
A full list of winners and finalists follows. In the coming weeks, CNHI News Service will publish judges comments as well as links to the award-winning work of CNHI newspapers.
DIVISION I (Daily circulation 12,000 and greater)
Newspaper of the Year: Winner The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.; Finalist Traverse City Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich.
Web Site of the Year: Winner Ottumwa.com, Ottumwa Courier, Ottumwa, Iowa; Finalist SalemNews.com, The Salem News, Beverly, Mass.
Public Service Award: Winner - The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa. (with major contribution by Kecia Bal); Finalist The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass.
Reporter of the Year: Winner Mark Fischenich, The Free Press, Mankato, Minn.; Finalist Stephen Tait, The Daily News, Newburyport, Mass.
Columnist of the Year: Winner Taylor Armerding, The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass.; Finalist Bill O'Brien, Traverse City Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich.
Editorial Writer of the Year: Winner Scott Underwood, The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.; Finalist David Miller, Traverse City Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich.
Sports Writer of the Year: Winner Kayleen Cubbal, New Castle News, New Castle, Pa.; Finalist Tom Housenick, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
Features Writer of the Year: Winner Mark Bennett, Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.; Finalist Scott Meeker, The Joplin Globe, Joplin, Mo.
Photographer of the Year: Winner John Cross, The Free Press, Mankato, Minn.; Finalist Julie Lewis, The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y.
Designer of the Year: Winner - Gary Castor, The Joplin Globe, Joplin, Mo.; Finalist Jim Reilly, The Salem News, Beverly, Mass.
DIVISION II (Daily circulation less than 12,000)
Newspaper of the Year: Winner Gloucester Daily Times, Gloucester, Mass.; Finalist Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, Lockport, N.Y.
Web Site of the Year: Winner Reporter.net, The Lebanon Reporter, Lebanon, Ind.; Finalist CullmanTimes.com, The Cullman Times, Cullman, Ala.
Public Service Award: Winner Greenville Herald-Banner, Greenville, Texas; Finalist Washington Times-Herald, Washington, Ind.
Reporter of the Year: Winner Kelly Foreman, Richmond Register, Richmond, Ky.; Finalist Kristen Grieco, Gloucester Daily Times, Gloucester, Mass.
Columnist of the Year: Winner Bob Belcher, Corsicana Daily Sun, Corsicana, Texas; Finalist Phil Riddle, The Weatherford Democrat, Weatherford, Texas
Editorial Writer of the Year: Winner - Rowe H. Ray, San Marcos Daily Record, San Marcos, Texas
Sports Writer of the Year; Winner Jamie Wachter, Thomasville Times-Enterprise, Thomasville, Ga.; Finalist Mike Hutsell, The Evening News, Jeffersonville, Ind.
Features Writer of the Year: Winner Chris Morris, The Evening News, Jeffersonville, Ind.; Finalist Toni Hopper, The Duncan Banner, Duncan, Okla.
Photographer of the Year: Winner Chuck Branham, The Evening News, Jeffersonville, Ind.; Finalist Tricia Neal, Commonwealth Journal, Somerset, Ky.
Designer of the Year: Winner Amy Huffman-Branham, The Evening News, Jeffersonville, Ind.
DIVISION III (Non-daily newspapers)
Newspaper of the Year: Winner The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.; Finalist Andover Townsman, Andover, Mass.
Web Site of the Year: No award
Public Service Award: Winner - The Leeds News, Leeds, Ala. (with major contribution by Jennifer Brady)
Reporter of the Year: Winner Tara Kaprowy, The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.; Finalist Tammie Toler, Princeton Times, Princeton, W.Va.
Columnist of the Year: Winner Jeff Kaley, Waurika News-Democrat, Waurika, Okla.; Finalist Tammie Toler, Princeton Times, Princeton, W.Va.
Editorial Writer of the Year: Winner Willie Sawyers, The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.; Finalist Debbie Blank, The Herald-Tribune, Batesville, Ind.
Sports Writer of the Year: No award
Features Writer of the Year: Winner Tara Kaprowy, The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.; Finalist Robert Bridges, Suwannee Democrat, Live Oak, Fla.
Photographer of the Year: Winner Denis House, The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.
Designer of the Year: Winner - Derek Micah Armstrong, The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.
Magazine of the Year (No division)
Winner Johnstown Magazine, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.; Finalist Allegany, Cumberland Times-News, Cumberland, Md.
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