2023 NCPA Editorial and Advertising Awards
Contact: Philip Lucey, NCPA Executive Director, phil@ncpress.com
For Immediate Release
Thursday, August 24, 2023
(Raleigh, NC) North Carolina Press Association members were honored for excellence in news, photojournalism, and advertising coverage, during the 150th annual convention held in Raleigh on Thursday, August 24, 2023. NCPA's contest continues to be one of the largest in the country with over 3,500 entries from over 125 newspapers and news organizations. This year Alabama Press Association members judged the contest.
The Henry Lee Weathers Freedom of Information Award honors journalists or newspapers for exceptional work in advancing or upholding the cause of Freedom of Information. It also recognizes excellence in reporting about access to government-held information and the First Amendment. Danielle Battaglia and Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan from the News & Observer, and Danielle Chemtob and Alexandria Sands from AXIOS Charlotte were recognzed as the best in their respective divisions for this award.
The Hugh Morton Photographer of the year award recognizes a photographer's body of work for the contest year and is the most prestigious photography award we give. This year the judges recognized Bob Karp from 27587 Magazine, Ethan Hyman from the News & Observer, and Kenneth Fine from NewOldNorth.com.
The Duke University/Green-Rossiter Award for Distinguished Newspaper Work in Higher Education recognized Zac Ezzone and Elizabeth Egan from the Triangle Business Journal and The Assembly Staff for their in-depth coverage.
The Media & Law awards- sponsored by the NC Bar Association, recognizes outstanding legal reporting that fosters greater public understanding of the legal system and the role of lawyers in today's society. Holly Kays and Kyle Perrotti of Smoky Mountain News, Michael Gordon of the Charlotte Observer, and Sarah Nagem of Border Belt Independent, took home these awards.
Cherokee One Feather, Elkin Tribune, State Port Pilot, Smoky Mountain News, High Point Enterprise, and Greensboro News & Record, were recognized at the top of their respective divisions for the ad sweepstakes award.
Below is the full list of winners:
Division A
Ashe Post & Times Three awards to Teresa Roark-Laws and Brian Hodges
Avery Journal Times Three awards to Jamie Shell and Lily Kincaid
Bertie Ledger-Advance One first place award to Thadd White
Butner-Creedmoor News One first place award to the staff
Cherokee One Feather A total of ten awards go to Robert Jumper, Scott Brings Plenty, Dawn Arneach and Jonah Lossiah
Clemmons Courier Three editorial awards to Marc Pruitt and Andy Mooney
Daily Dispatch 15 total awards to Kellen Holtzman, Ray Gronberg, Tyler Davis, David Irvine, , Mark Dolejs and , Ricky Stilley
Elkin Tribune Ten awards go to Zach Coburn, Katelyn Goins, Amanda Cooke, Holly Lamm, Elizabeth Atkins, Allie Parsons, Kitsey Burns Harrison and staff
Graham Star 11 awards for Kevin Hensley, Randy Foster and Staff
Hendersonville Lightning Five awards to Bill Moss, Amy McCraw and staff.
Highlander Three advertising awards tonight for Stephanie Mason
Johnstonian News Seven awards go to Scott Bolejack, Jamie Strickland and Creative Staff
News-Journal Five awards goes to Jessica Hendrix Brown, Catharin Shepard, and Staff
News-Record & Sentinel Two awards for Karen Ingraham, Johnny Casey, and Marilyn Parnell
Smoky Mountain Times Five editorial award to Larry Griffin, Jessica Webb, and Hannah Styles
Spring Hope Enterprise One award go to Ken Ripley
Stokes News Two advertising awards to Marjorie Morrison, Serena Bowman and staff
The Enterprise Five awards to Thadd White, Brandice Hoggard, Deborah Griffin and Staff
The Paper Eight awards to Marty Queen, Bill Poteat, Angela Kuper Copeland, Allen VanNoppen, and staff
Triangle Tribune One editorial award to Mia Khatib
Watauga Democrat Six awards for Jillyan Mobley, Moss Brennan and Kevin Lumpkin
Yadkin Ripple Two awards go to Zach Colburn, Allie Parsons, and Staff
Divsion B
Alamance News Five awards go to Tomas Murawski, Kristy Bailey and Bob Sutton
Brunswick Beacon Six awards in total to Christy Williamson, Kay Milliken Savanna Tenenoff and Staff
Chatham News + Record 20 awards to Benjamin Rappaport, Taylor A. Heeden, Simon Barbre, Nikki Witt, Maydha Devarajan, Evan Rogers, Victor Hensley, Bill Horner III, James Kiefer and Staff
Cherokee Scout 11 awards in total to Anngee Quinones-Belian, Justin Fitzgerald, Jared Putnam, David Brown, Christy Guthrie and Staff
Clay County Progress one advertising award to Madison Kimsey, Madison Ledford, and Becky Long
Coastland Times Ten awards for Summer Stevens, Danielle Puleo and Staff
Courier-Times Eight awards to Ginger Carroll, Jan Ross, Kelly Snow and Silas Albright
Daily Herald Ten total awards go to Rhonda Irby, Richard Holm and Justin Hayes
Franklin Press Four total awards to Stephanie Mason, Liz Birolin and staff
News Reporter 11 awards go to Diana Matthews, Justin Smith
Rocky McPherson, Joseph Williams, Grant Merritt and Staff
North State Journal Ten awards to A.P. Dillon, Shawn Krest, Cory Lavalette, Isabelle Lavalette and Matt Mercer
Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Four awards for Holly Taylor and Staff
Robesonian Two advertising awards for Chris Stiles and staff
Stanly News & Press Two editorial awards for B.J. Drye and Chris Miller
State Port Pilot A total of 37 advertising and editorial awards go to Carol Magnani, Joey Robinson, Linda Lash, Ben Frazier, Lee Hinnant, Eliot Duke, Lee Hinnant, Morgan Harper, Michael Paul, and Staff
Syvla Herald and Ruralite Two awards to Beth Lawrence and Jim Buchanan
Up & Coming Weekly 6 awards to Isaiah Jones, R. Elgin Zeiber, Pitt Dickey, Kathleen Ramsey and Dov Goldberg
Washington Daily News 13 awards for David Singleton, Kristen Smith, Ashley Vansant, Holly Morgan, Steve Barnes and Staff
Wilkes Journal-Patriot Three awards to Marty McGee, Jule Hubbard and staff.
Division C
27587 Magazine Eight awards to Bob Bogert, Bob Karp and Philip M. Read Jr.
Carteret County News-Times One award to JJ Smith
Charlotte Business Journal Two awards go to Melissa Key and staff
Daily Record Ten awards to Ginger Carroll, Jan Ross, Donnell Coley, Robert Jordan, Emily Weaver and staff
Indy Week Four awards to Lena Geller, Thomasi McDonald and Jasmine Gallup
Mount Airy News Seven advertising and editorial awards for Lena Geller, Marjorie Morrison, Samantha Turner, Katelyn Goins, Cory Smith, Donna Thomas, Regenia Grant, Aaron Eaton, and Kathy Swaney
Mountain Xpress Three awards for Justin McGuire and Jessica Wakeman
Mountaineer 11 awards for Jan George, Amanda Adams, Jack Snyder, Becky Johnson, Eligiah Thornton, Tyler Auffhammer and Vicki Hyatt
Outer Banks Milepost 10 awards go to Chris Kemp, Chris Bickford, Matt Walker, Jesse Davis, Ryan Moser, Aycock Brown, Daniel Pullen, Drew Wilson and Staff
The Pilot 30 advertising and editorial awards go to Scott Yancey, Samantha Cunningham, Mechelle Butler, Erika Leap, Serena Lovely, Sam Hudson, John Nagy, Ted Fitzgerald, Jessica Galloway, Ginny Trigg, Abbigail Overfelt, Timothy L. Hale, Maggie Beamguard, Scott Yancey, Kathy Desmond, Terry Hartsell, Emilee Phillips, Jonathan Bym and Staff
Queen City Nerve One award, a 1st place, to Timothy DePeugh
Salisbury Post Three Awards for Chandler Inions and Staff
Smoky Mountain News a total of 34 advertising and editorial awards go to Micah McClure, Jessica Murray, Sophia Burleigh, Holly Kays, Cory Vaillancourt, Greg Boothroyd, Sophia Burleigh, Kyle Perrotti ,Amanda Bradley, Hannah McLeod, Chris Cox and Staff
Triad City Beat Two editorial awards to Sayaka Matsuoka and Brian Clarey
Triangle Business Journal Four editorial awards to Lauren Ohnesorge, Caleb Harshberger, Zac Ezzone and Staff
Wilson Times 16 total awards go to Lisa Pearson, Beth Robbins,Drew C. Wilson, Corey Friedman, Olivia Neeley, Andrew Schnittker, Olivia Neeley, Paul Durham and Staff
YES! Weekly Ten awards go to Jim Longworth, Alex Farmer, Dalia Razo, Ian McDowell and Dalia Razo
Division O
Asheville Watchdog Seven awards for Barbara Durr, John Boyle, Sally Kestin and Andrew Jones
Axios Charlotte Two awards go to Michael Graff and Staff
Border Belt Independent Seven awards go to Ivey Schofield, Sarah Nagem, Keem Grady and Les High
Cardinal & Pine Seven awards for Leah Sherrel, Michael McElroy, Shaun Sindelman, Madeline P. Gray, Billy Ball, and Staff
Carolina Journal Five awards go to Dallas Woodhouse, Mitch Kokai, Greg de Deugd, Donna King, Jim Stirling, Theresa Opeka, Maya Reagan and staff
Carolina Public Press 10 awards for Jack Igelman, Shelby Harris, Brittain Peck, Kate Martin, Melissa Sue Gerrits, Ben Sessoms and Staff
CityView TODAY Five editorial award to Cindy Burnham, Jason Canady, Michael Futch, Gary Mangum and Staff
Coastal Review Four awards for Trista Talton, Capt. Gordon Churchill and Staff
EducationNC Four awards to Hannah McClellan and Molly Osborne Urquhart
Island Free Press Nine editorial and advertising awards for Joy Crist, Donna Barnett, James D. Charlet, Don Bowers and Catherine Kozak
N.C. Policy Watch Two awards for Lisa Sorg, and Greg Childress
NC Health News 15 awards go to Taylor Knopf, Will Atwater, Clarissa Donnelly-DeRoven, Anne Blythe, Aneri Pattani, Rachel Crumpler, Rose Hoban, Sarah Sloan, Jennifer Fernandez and Staff
NewOldNorth.com Five awards go to Kenneth Fine, Casey Mozingo, and Shan Stumpf
Ocracoke Observer Seven awards for Richard Taylor, Peter Vankevich, and Connie Leinbach
Port City Daily Three awards go to Brenna Flanagan, Shea Carver and Amy Passaretti Willis
Richmond Observer Ten awards for Kyle Pillar, William R. Toler, Zachary Pessagno and Staff
The Rant Three awards going to Richard Sullins, Gordon Anderson, and Billy Liggett
Division D
Daily Advance Eight awards going to Righ Houghton, Lisa Bailey, David Gough and Chris Day
Daily News (Jacksonville) One award for Chris Miller
Daily Reflector Five awards to Kim Grizzard, Ginger Livingston, Pat Gruner and Staff
Gaston Gazette Three awards for Kara Fohner
Goldsboro News-Argus 14 awards for Philip Sayblack, Becky Barclay, Aviel Smolka, Rebecca James, Rochelle Moore, Chandler Johnson, Phyllis Moore and Staff
Herald-Sun 12 awards go to Tammy Grubb, Ethan Hyman, Steve Wiseman, Kaitlin McKeown, Tammy Grubb, Mary Helen Moore, Andrew Carter, Laura Brache and Staff
Hickory Daily Record 13 awards for Robert C. Reed, Miya Banks, Mark Parker, Sarah C. Johnson, Kevin Griffin, Josh McKinney and the Sports Staff
High Point Enterprise 32 advertising and editorial awards for Sandy Southards, Amanda Duncan, Jimmy Tomlin, Paul B. Johnson, Laura Greene, Guy Lucas, Roger Boyd and Staff
Morganton News Herald Four awards for Jason Koon and staff
Sanford Herald Two advertising awards for Laura Powers
Sun Journal Three awards go to Todd Wetherington and Caramia Valentin
Division E
Charlotte Observer 28 total awards going to Catherine Muccigrosso, Adam Bell, Payton Guion, Theoden Janes, Ames Alexander, Gavin Off, Devna Bose, Scott Fowler, Alex Andrejev, Kata Stevens, Anna Maria Della Costa, Joe Marusak, DJ Simmons, Gavin Off, Adam Wagner, Michael Gordon, Sara Coello, Tyler Dukes, Makayla Holder, Melissa Oyler, Heidi Finley, Jeff Siner, Alex Zietlow and Staff
Fayetteville Observer 15 awards to Myron B. Pitts, Paul Woolverton, Taylor Shook, Rodd Baxley, Lexi Solomon, Danielle Dreilinger, Andrew Craft, Rachael Riley and staff
News & Observer 26 total awards for Martha Quillin, Kaitlin McKeown, Josh Shaffer, Richard Stradling, Brian Gordon, T. Keung Hui, Drew Jackson, Robert Willett, Ethan Hyman, Luke DeCock, Steve Wiseman, Andrew Carter, Laura Brache, Drew Hill, Paola Perez, Will Doran, Dan Kane, Josh Shaffer, Adam Wagner, Tyler Dukes, Payton Guion, Gordon Rago, Kayla Guo and Staff
News & Record 11 awards go to Allen Johnson, Woody Marshall, Lea Anne Williams, Cindy Loman, Jennifer Atkins Brown, Ray Causey, and Mike Kernels
StarNews 12 awards go to Allison Ballard, Matthew Prensky, Sydney Hoover, Emma Dill, John Staton, Michael Cuneo, Emma Dill, Chase Jordan, Dan Spears, Michael Cuneo and Staff
Winston-Salem Journal 26 awards for Cindy Loman, Allison Lee Isley, Lisa O'Donnell, Wesley Young, John Hinton, Richard Craver, Scott Sexton, Walt Unks, Michael Hewlett, Mick Scott, Ragan Robinson, Lisa O'Donnell and staff
Congratulations to all the winners!!