Today’s News-Herald earned four statewide first-place awards for news and advertising quality in annual Arizona Newspapers Association contests last weekend.

The newspaper earned a top award for departmental reporting and newswriting excellence, and an additional first-place award for editorial page excellence. It competed against non-metropolitan dailies with circulation under 25,000 in such cities as Yuma, Flagstaff, Prescott, Sierra Vista and Casa Grande. The departmental awards are judged on quality of staff work over a year’s period.

In advertising, the paper earned awards for the best black and white paid ad series for Envy Us clothing in Parker and best online animated ads for Mudshark Brewery. Additionally, the paper earned a second place award for its “Havasu at 50” special section and a third place for best color ad for Juicy’s River Café.

The awards were presented at the ANA Fall Convention and Annual Meeting in Scottsdale.