Newspaper wins 8 awards in statewide contest
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008
The White River Valley News received eight awards at the Arkansas Press Association's annual awards luncheon held Saturday at the North Little Rock Wyndham Hotel. The newspaper competed against other small weeklies from across the state.
Managing editor Pat Harris topped the news features category with a first and second place win for "Finding a Way," about autism, and "A Long Life," about a Fayetteville woman who had celebrated her 104 th birthday.
Harris also took a second place award with in-depth series reporting on the "Growth in Elkins. "She also received a second place award for best front page design.
Harris and string reporters Kathy Martine and Tamara Bartlett-Long received second place honors for education coverage.
Martine also received an honorable mention in the photo essay category for photos she took at a 2007 Halloween party held at the Elkins Community Center.
The awards ceremony concluded with the coveted general excellence awards. The White River Valley News received recognition with an honorable mention in excellence.
David Celevines, one of the judges, wrote," I like this paper ! Good local news coverage. I'm sure this paper serves its community well."
The wins at APA's Better Newspaper Contest are a first in the almost nine year history of the White River Valley News.
"I'm proud for the paper," publisher Jeff Jeffus said.
The awards presentation followed a three-day convention. There were 2, 623 contest entries of large and small newspapers in the 2008 Better Newspaper Contest.
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