Roanoke Times staffers win 7 top awards
The Virginia Press Association and Virginia News Photographers Association sponsored the contests.
The Roanoke Times
Reporters and photographers for The Roanoke Times won seven first-place awards this weekend in journalism contests sponsored by the state's two main journalism groups.
Newspaper staffers won an additional 10 awards in the Virginia Press Association contest and four in the Virginia News Photographers Association contest. The winners were announced at a convention Saturday in Roanoke.
In the VPA competition:
Photographer Josh Meltzer took two firsts, one in the general news photo category for a man in prayer at church, and one in the picture story category for photographs of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Meltzer shared a third first-place award with reporters Tim Thornton and Isak Howell, copy editor Beth Handley and artist Chris OBrion in the combination picture and story category for their report on development along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Sports writer Mark Berman took first in sports feature writing for his story about Roanoke College basketball player Robby Pridgen's special relationship with his half brother and for features about Virginia Tech basketball player Bryant Matthews and Virginia Tech basketball coach Seth Greenberg.
Berman shared a first with sportswriters Doug Doughty and Randy King in the sports news category for their coverage of the Atlantic Coast Conference expansion.
Reporter Tad Dickens took a first place in a separate contest on legal-affairs reporting that VPA sponsors in conjunction with the Virginia Bar Association. He shared first with a reporter from the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk.
Photographer Seth Gitner took first place in the VNPA sports feature category for his photo of a NASCAR driver celebrating by turning a back flip.
The paper also won six second-place and four third-place awards in the VPA contest, and Times photographers won two second-place awards, one third and one honorable mention in the VNPA contest.
The second-place VPA winners were:
Artist Rob Lunsford, in informational graphics, for his work illustrating how the paper's new press works.
Gitner in sports features photography for a NASCAR driver celebrating with a back flip.
A team composed of Ann Hackworth, Elizabeth Hock, Terri Macklin, Wendy Maxey, Pam McCallister and Andrew Svec, in the category of lifestyle design for their design of the Extra section.
Hackworth, in the page design category for design of the Sunday Extra section.
Reporter John Cramer, photographer Kelly Hahn Johnson and designer Andrew Svec, in the combination pictures and story category for their report on changes in Southeast Roanoke.
Reporter Beth Macy, in feature story writing, for a story on a woman battling cancer.
The third-place VPA winners were:
Gitner, in the personality photo category, for a slice of life photograph of a man in a bar.
Reporter Mike Gangloff, in health, science and environmental writing, for coverage of PCBs in the New River.
Berman, in sports news, on the Woods Brothers racing team moving out of state.
Berman, King and sportswriter Aaron McFarling, in sports event writing, for their coverage of Virginia Tech's football win over Miami last fall.
The second-place VNPA winners were:
Sam Dean, in feature photography, for his photograph of a blacksmith at the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival.
Meltzer, for a multimedia presentation on a Roanoke man caring for his elderly mother.
The third-place VNPA winner was:
Meltzer, for a multimedia presentation on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
An honorable mention in the VNPA went to:
Johnson for her portrait of a child playing peeka-boo at his Southeast Roanoke home.
Richmond Magazine won three of the four best-in-show awards for the specialty publications division of the Virginia Press Association's annual competition.
The magazine was the only recipient of multiple best-in-show awards for writing, artwork and news presentation.
The final best-in-show award for the specialty division, photography, was won by Scott Elmquist of Style Weekly of Richmond for a close-up photo of a prisoner.
The Smithfield Times and The Virginian-Pilot were named as winners of the 56th annual Virginia Press Association Awards for Journalistic Integrity and Community Service.
The VPA Award for Journalistic Integrity and Community Service was created in 1949 to recognize editorial leadership as well as community service above and beyond a publication's circulation area. Entries are judged on evidence of a significant effort beyond a paper's routine scope; the initiative of the paper; the use of editorials in connection with the project or projects; and the results.
The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk also won its 20th sweepstakes award of the last 25 years in the Virginia Press Association's annual competition in writing, photography, artwork and news presentation.
The Pilot captured 63 of a possible 258 points, competing in a field of eight daily newspapers with daily circulation greater than 50,000.
Other newspapers in the region won awards in the competitions for smaller papers. They are:
Blue Ridge Country Magazine in Roanoke; William Alexander Jr., second, excellence of front page or front cover ; second, design and presentation.
City Magazine in Roanoke; Joey Coakley, third, lifestyle or entertainment pages.
The Roanoker magazine; William Alexander Jr., first in excellence of front page or front cover; Norma Lugar, first, business and financial writing; third, feature series or continuing story.
Salem Times-Register; Jon Alverson, third, front page; third, personality or portrait photo; Meg Hibbert, first, education writing; Brian Hoffman, third, sports feature photo; first, sports event writing; first, sports news story; Katheryn Huff, Meg Hibbert, third, series of news stories.
The Enterprise, Stuart: Nancy Lindsey, third in spot news writing.
The Vinton Messenger: Jack Christian, third in government writing.
The Wytheville Enterprise: Theresa Hart, second, in-depth or investigative reporting; Deb King, second, illustrations; third, illustrations; Stephanie Porter-Nichols, second, editorial pages; Jeffrey Simmons, second, pictorial photo; third, page design; first, combination picture and story; first, general news photo; Sam Slemp, second, spot news photo; third, personality or portrait photo; second, personality or portrait photo; Staff, second, special sections or special editions; first, special sections or special editions.
Bedford Bulletin: John Barnhart, first in column writing.
The Bland County Messenger: Jeffrey Simmons, first, pictorial photo; second, personality or portrait photo; second, pictorial photo; first, front page; third, lifestyle or entertainment pages; Sam Slemp, second, spot news photo; second, combination picture and story; first, picture story or essay; Sam Slemp, Jeffrey Simmons, third, picture story or essay.
The News-Messenger, Christiansburg: Jon Alverson, Katheryn Huff, first, front page; Julianna Edwards, first, spot news writing; third, in-depth or investigative reporting; David Grimes, second, sports feature writing; David Grimes, Jason Pounds, third, sports pages; Larry Middleton, first, sports news photo; second, sports news photo.
The Virginian Review, Covington: Gavin Dressler, third, sports news photo; first, feature photo; second, sports news photo; Larry O'Rourke, second, headline writing.
The Floyd Press: Wanda Combs, second, home, leisure and entertainment writing; first, government writing; Deb King, first, illustrations; Roger Mannon, third, sports column writing.
The Gazette, Galax: Dahna Lineberry, second, illustrations; Craig Worrell, second, sports feature writing.
The Declaration, Independence: Larry Chambers, third, spot news photo; second, sports news photo; first, spot news photo.
The News-Gazette, Lexington: Stephanie Blevins, third, general makeup; first, page design; third, business, financial or agricultural pages; third, lifestyle or entertainment pages; B. Lynn DiBiase, first, education writing; Chris Floyd, third, sports news story; Mary Price, second, education writing; first, general news photo; Claudia Schwab, second, general news photo; Melissa Thornley, third, feature photo; Mary Woodson, third, spot news photo.
Smyth County News & Messenger: Lee Ann Prescott, first, general news writing; Staff, third, special sections or special editions.
The Recorder, Monterey: Anne Adams, third, editorial writing; second, feature story writing; Lea Campbell, second, editorial writing; Charles Garratt, first, sports feature photo; Deborah Huso, first, in-depth or investigative reporting; Crysta Stanton, first, feature story writing.
New Castle Record: Anita Firebaugh, second, series of news stories.
The Southwest Times, Pulaski: Staff, second, special sections or special editions.
Reporters and photographers for The Roanoke Times won seven first-place awards this weekend in journalism contests sponsored by the state's two main journalism groups.
Newspaper staffers won an additional 10 awards in the Virginia Press Association contest and four in the Virginia News Photographers Association contest. The winners were announced at a convention Saturday in Roanoke.
In the VPA competition:
Photographer Josh Meltzer took two firsts, one in the general news photo category for a man in prayer at church, and one in the picture story category for photographs of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Meltzer shared a third first-place award with reporters Tim Thornton and Isak Howell, copy editor Beth Handley and artist Chris OBrion in the combination picture and story category for their report on development along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Sports writer Mark Berman took first in sports feature writing for his story about Roanoke College basketball player Robby Pridgen's special relationship with his half brother and for features about Virginia Tech basketball player Bryant Matthews and Virginia Tech basketball coach Seth Greenberg.
Berman shared a first with sportswriters Doug Doughty and Randy King in the sports news category for their coverage of the Atlantic Coast Conference expansion.
Reporter Tad Dickens took a first place in a separate contest on legal-affairs reporting that VPA sponsors in conjunction with the Virginia Bar Association. He shared first with a reporter from the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk.
Photographer Seth Gitner took first place in the VNPA sports feature category for his photo of a NASCAR driver celebrating by turning a back flip.
The paper also won six second-place and four third-place awards in the VPA contest, and Times photographers won two second-place awards, one third and one honorable mention in the VNPA contest.
The second-place VPA winners were:
Artist Rob Lunsford, in informational graphics, for his work illustrating how the paper's new press works.
Gitner in sports features photography for a NASCAR driver celebrating with a back flip.
A team composed of Ann Hackworth, Elizabeth Hock, Terri Macklin, Wendy Maxey, Pam McCallister and Andrew Svec, in the category of lifestyle design for their design of the Extra section.
Hackworth, in the page design category for design of the Sunday Extra section.
Reporter John Cramer, photographer Kelly Hahn Johnson and designer Andrew Svec, in the combination pictures and story category for their report on changes in Southeast Roanoke.
Reporter Beth Macy, in feature story writing, for a story on a woman battling cancer.
The third-place VPA winners were:
Gitner, in the personality photo category, for a slice of life photograph of a man in a bar.
Reporter Mike Gangloff, in health, science and environmental writing, for coverage of PCBs in the New River.
Berman, in sports news, on the Woods Brothers racing team moving out of state.
Berman, King and sportswriter Aaron McFarling, in sports event writing, for their coverage of Virginia Tech's football win over Miami last fall.
The second-place VNPA winners were:
Sam Dean, in feature photography, for his photograph of a blacksmith at the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival.
Meltzer, for a multimedia presentation on a Roanoke man caring for his elderly mother.
The third-place VNPA winner was:
Meltzer, for a multimedia presentation on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
An honorable mention in the VNPA went to:
Johnson for her portrait of a child playing peeka-boo at his Southeast Roanoke home.
Richmond Magazine won three of the four best-in-show awards for the specialty publications division of the Virginia Press Association's annual competition.
The magazine was the only recipient of multiple best-in-show awards for writing, artwork and news presentation.
The final best-in-show award for the specialty division, photography, was won by Scott Elmquist of Style Weekly of Richmond for a close-up photo of a prisoner.
The Smithfield Times and The Virginian-Pilot were named as winners of the 56th annual Virginia Press Association Awards for Journalistic Integrity and Community Service.
The VPA Award for Journalistic Integrity and Community Service was created in 1949 to recognize editorial leadership as well as community service above and beyond a publication's circulation area. Entries are judged on evidence of a significant effort beyond a paper's routine scope; the initiative of the paper; the use of editorials in connection with the project or projects; and the results.
The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk also won its 20th sweepstakes award of the last 25 years in the Virginia Press Association's annual competition in writing, photography, artwork and news presentation.
The Pilot captured 63 of a possible 258 points, competing in a field of eight daily newspapers with daily circulation greater than 50,000.
Other newspapers in the region won awards in the competitions for smaller papers. They are:
Blue Ridge Country Magazine in Roanoke; William Alexander Jr., second, excellence of front page or front cover ; second, design and presentation.
City Magazine in Roanoke; Joey Coakley, third, lifestyle or entertainment pages.
The Roanoker magazine; William Alexander Jr., first in excellence of front page or front cover; Norma Lugar, first, business and financial writing; third, feature series or continuing story.
Salem Times-Register; Jon Alverson, third, front page; third, personality or portrait photo; Meg Hibbert, first, education writing; Brian Hoffman, third, sports feature photo; first, sports event writing; first, sports news story; Katheryn Huff, Meg Hibbert, third, series of news stories.
The Enterprise, Stuart: Nancy Lindsey, third in spot news writing.
The Vinton Messenger: Jack Christian, third in government writing.
The Wytheville Enterprise: Theresa Hart, second, in-depth or investigative reporting; Deb King, second, illustrations; third, illustrations; Stephanie Porter-Nichols, second, editorial pages; Jeffrey Simmons, second, pictorial photo; third, page design; first, combination picture and story; first, general news photo; Sam Slemp, second, spot news photo; third, personality or portrait photo; second, personality or portrait photo; Staff, second, special sections or special editions; first, special sections or special editions.
Bedford Bulletin: John Barnhart, first in column writing.
The Bland County Messenger: Jeffrey Simmons, first, pictorial photo; second, personality or portrait photo; second, pictorial photo; first, front page; third, lifestyle or entertainment pages; Sam Slemp, second, spot news photo; second, combination picture and story; first, picture story or essay; Sam Slemp, Jeffrey Simmons, third, picture story or essay.
The News-Messenger, Christiansburg: Jon Alverson, Katheryn Huff, first, front page; Julianna Edwards, first, spot news writing; third, in-depth or investigative reporting; David Grimes, second, sports feature writing; David Grimes, Jason Pounds, third, sports pages; Larry Middleton, first, sports news photo; second, sports news photo.
The Virginian Review, Covington: Gavin Dressler, third, sports news photo; first, feature photo; second, sports news photo; Larry O'Rourke, second, headline writing.
The Floyd Press: Wanda Combs, second, home, leisure and entertainment writing; first, government writing; Deb King, first, illustrations; Roger Mannon, third, sports column writing.
The Gazette, Galax: Dahna Lineberry, second, illustrations; Craig Worrell, second, sports feature writing.
The Declaration, Independence: Larry Chambers, third, spot news photo; second, sports news photo; first, spot news photo.
The News-Gazette, Lexington: Stephanie Blevins, third, general makeup; first, page design; third, business, financial or agricultural pages; third, lifestyle or entertainment pages; B. Lynn DiBiase, first, education writing; Chris Floyd, third, sports news story; Mary Price, second, education writing; first, general news photo; Claudia Schwab, second, general news photo; Melissa Thornley, third, feature photo; Mary Woodson, third, spot news photo.
Smyth County News & Messenger: Lee Ann Prescott, first, general news writing; Staff, third, special sections or special editions.
The Recorder, Monterey: Anne Adams, third, editorial writing; second, feature story writing; Lea Campbell, second, editorial writing; Charles Garratt, first, sports feature photo; Deborah Huso, first, in-depth or investigative reporting; Crysta Stanton, first, feature story writing.
New Castle Record: Anita Firebaugh, second, series of news stories.
The Southwest Times, Pulaski: Staff, second, special sections or special editions.
