On April 7, 2015, I, along with the rest of the Kokomo Tribune staff, was awarded First Place for Website of the Year in the Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. Best of CNHI Editorial Contest for Division 1.
Here is a press release about the winners:
Breaking news, enterprise highlight 'Best of CNHI' winners
Posted: Tuesday, April 7, 2015 10:33 amMONTGOMERY, Ala. - Aggressive coverage of breaking news and pursuit of stories that reveal hidden community dangers distinguished newspapers and websites in the Best of CNHI 2014 editorial contest.
The Eagle-Tribune, of North Andover, Mass., was named Newspaper of the Year among CNHI's large dailies for its detailed news and photo coverage of the summer-long drama of a popular supermarket chain's near demise because of a family ownership feud, and subsequent rescue after a worker walkout and customer boycott that attracted national attention. The paper also was cited for its insightful reporting of separate tragedies involving a 13-year-old girl killed while crossing railroad tracks and a house fire that caused the death of two young brothers.
Judges selected the Ottumwa, Iowa, Courier as Newspaper of the Year among smaller dailies for showcasing important community stories, including the death of a local Marine in Afghanistan, which warranted a four-page, pullout section. The paper’s extensive local news coverage also received praise.
The Andover, Mass., Townsman earned Newspaper of the Year honors for the second year in a row among weekly and non-daily newspapers for its news enterprise and for its variety of feature stories and photos that celebrated the lives of local residents. Judges were also impressed with the paper’s dynamic opinion page that showed strong ties with its community.
Website of the Year awards went to two Indiana newspapers: The Kokomo Tribune and the Logansport Pharos-Tribune. KokomoTribune.com and PharosTribune.com were cited for adept use of digital storytelling tools, notably on deadline. Judges also commended the Logansport website for its expert use of live-blog and multimedia to cover a devastating fire at a bed and breakfast, and credited the Kokomo Tribune site for engaging online readers in local elections.
Two of CNHI's larger dailies shared the coveted Public Service award for casting light on hidden problems and rallying readers to action.
Judges commended the Enid, Okla., News & Eagle for a comprehensive report that used data analysis and interactive maps to portray a scarcity of working fire hydrants in some parts of the city. The News and Eagle translated stories into two languages – Spanish and Marshallese -- to ensure all who live in the community could read a series of stories documenting the unevenly maintained water system and its public safety ramifications.
The Anderson, Ind., Herald Bulletin won a Public Service award for a comprehensive report on the methamphetamine scourge in its home county. Judges lauded the newspaper for broadening its view to focus on homes contaminated by poisons associated with meth -- a trend that affects many readers and property owners -- as well as forward-looking editorials that called for a response from the community at large.
Among smaller dailies, The Meridian, Miss., Star won a Public Service prize for its aggressive pursuit of a story involving the mysterious draining of a local reservoir.
Judges also honored three Magazines of the Year including Grand Traverse Scene, commended for features that capture the life and community in the Traverse City, Mich., region; Corridor magazine in Fairmont, W.Va., for polished packages that give readers a strong sense of place; and Business Times of Edmond, Okla., for appealing to business leaders and everyday consumers and investors.
The annual Best of CNHI contest recognizes the individual and collective achievements of the company's journalists. The contest was judged by a panel of six veteran editors.
CNHI (Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.), based in Montgomery, Ala., publishes newspapers, websites and specialty publications in more than 130 communities in 23 states.
Individual Best of CNHI 2014 winners:
Reporter of the Year: Keith Eddings, The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass. (large dailies); Matt Koesters, The News & Tribune, Jeffersonville, Ind. (small dailies); Bill Kirk, The Andover, Mass., Townsman (non-dailies).
Sports Writer of the Year: Aaron Snyder, Ashland, Ky., Independent (large dailies); Rob Ketcham, Cullman, Ala., Times (small dailies); Charles Curcio, Stanly News and Press, Albemarle, N.C. (non-dailies).
Editorial Writer of the Year: Lois Clermont, Plattsburgh, N.Y., Press-Republican (large dailies); Shea Van Hoy, The News & Tribune, Jeffersonville, Ind. (small dailies).
Columnist of the Year: Samantha Perry, Bluefield, W.Va., Daily Telegraph (large dailies); Misty Poe, Times West Virginian, Fairmont, W.Va. (small dailies); Tammie Toler, Princeton Times (non-dailies).
Photographer of the Year: Paul Bilodeau, The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass. (large dailies); Mike Springer, Gloucester, Mass., Daily Times (small dailies); Heather Mullinix, Crossville, Tenn., Chronicle (non-dailies).
Designer of the Year: Justin Chisham, Anderson, Ind., Design Center (large dailies); Claire Munn, The News & Tribune, Jeffersonville, Ind. (small dailies); Fran Landry, North Andover, Mass., Design Center (non-dailies).
CNHI, based in Montgomery, Alabama, is one of the country’s leading publishers of local news and information. It serves more than 130 communities in 23 states with newspapers, niche publications, websites and related digital services.
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