The Daily News was honored Saturday...
The Daily News was honored Saturday as the Louisiana Press Association’s Newspaper of the Year for its division.
The award was announced at the LPA convention in Lafayette.
The Daily News won the award in Division 5, which includes newspapers published two to four times a week.
The designation for the Newspaper of the Year is based on the number of points earned in the Better Newspaper Editorial Competition and the Better Newspaper Advertising Competition for 2009 with awards being given in individual contests for first, second, third places and honorable mention. The editorial contests range from news story writing to graphic design, while the advertising entries were judged based on design, creativity and effectiveness. The Florida Press Association judged both competitions this winter.
The Daily News won the sweepstakes awards in both the editorial and advertising competitions.
In all, The Daily News won 40 awards, including 12 first-place awards.
First places were awarded to The Daily News for:
• Best Feature Story, Marcelle Hanemann, on actor Sylvester Stallone’s purchase of a custom motorcycle designed by a local businessman.
• Best Sports Story, Brandon Wright, on Bowling Green’s preseason football camp.
• Best Investigative Report, Jacob Brooks, on the Easter shootings in Franklinton.
• Best Breaking News Photo, Jacob Brooks, at the one-year anniversary vigil of the Anita Smith murder in Franklinton.
• Best Feature Photo, Marcelle Hanemann, of young Kaytlynn Clark and Jayden Brice, then students at Arinde Footsteps Childcare Center.
• Best Sports Photo, Jacob Brooks, a snowy evening for football.
• Community Service, the newspaper’s Care and Share program.
• Staff Generated Ad Color over ½ Page, Kim Gerald, Mack Grubbs Motors.
• Best Ad Campaign, Kim Gerald, Citizens Savings Bank.
• Best Services Ad – Non-Retail, Kim Gerald, Magee Financial.
• Best Success Story of an Ad, Kim Gerald, Arata Law Office.
• Best Retailer Ad, Kim Gerald, City Drug Store.
Other awards were presented to:
• Marcelle Hanemann, Best News Story, honorable mention, and Best Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event, honorable mention;
• Marcelle Hanemann and Jacob Brooks, Best Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event, second and third places.
• Jacob Brooks, Best Investigative Report, third place, and Best Photo Package, second and third places.
• Jan Gibson, Best Sports Column, third place.
• Kim Gerald, Staff Generated Ad Black and White over ½ Page, second and third places; Staff Generated Ad Color over ½ Page, third place; Best Ad Campaign, second and third places; In Paper Promotion Black and White, second and third places; In Paper Promotion Color, second and third places; Advertising Idea or Promotion, second and third places; Best Services Ad Non-Retail, second place; and Best Retailer Ad, third place.
The newspaper also placed in the following categories: Best Classified section, third place; Best Front Page, third place; Best News Coverage, honorable mention; Best Lifestyle Coverage, second place; Best Overall Sports Coverage, second place; Best Special Section, second place; and General Excellence, third place.