EDITORIAL CONTEST WINNERS FOR 2019 2019

North Carolina Press Association Fighting for your right to know since 1873

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 1 2/5/20 1:55 PM 2019 WILLIAM C. LASSITER AWARD HUGH MORTON PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

SINCE 1988, THIS ANNUAL AWARD HAS GONE TO FIRST AMENDMENT PROPONENTS IN MANY WALKS OF LIFE. SOME OF THE PAST WINNERS INCLUDE CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES, STATE LAWMAKERS, PROFESSORS, LAWYERS. Community Newspaper Winner MICHAEL PAUL State Port Pilot

This special award was named in honor of the late William C. Lassiter, a former NCPA general counsel and recognizes members of the public who have made significant contributions in support of open government. STEPHEN M. ROSS North Carolina State Representative - (R) North Carolina House District 63 Alamance County

Rep. Stephen Ross, 4 term House member run a local bill removing legal notices from General Assembly is his unfailing willingness from Alamance County, former Mayor of newspapers.. And as Chairman of the House to challenge positions held by the League of Burlington and former Alamance County Local Government Committee in 2014, Ross Municipalities and the County Commissioners Commissioner, is awarded the NCPA’s Lassiter stopped a bill that would have changed all Association, of which he is a former member. Award. carriers into newspaper employees, subjecting publishers to worker’s compensation insurance Tonight we honor Rep. Ross for his commitment Steve has been a strong advocate for free liability (for individuals who have historically to an open government and the public’s press rights in everything from battles to been independent contractors) that could have right to know. Please join us in recognizing preserve newspaper public notice advertising spelled the end of cost effective distribution of Representative Stephen Ross. to protecting newspaper independent carrier print editions of newspapers in the state. Daily Newspaper Winner ANDREW DYE Winston-Salem Journal distribution. Along with Rep John Saul, he stopped the last attempt in the House to Perhaps Rep Ross’s greatest strength in the

Past Lassiter Award Winners 1988 Congressman Cass Ballenger 2001 Rep. Robert Grady 1989 Rep. George Miller 2002 Rep. Jennifer Weiss 1990 Elmer Oettinger, N.C. Institute of Government 2003 Hugh Stevens, NCPA Counsel Emeritus 1991 The Hon. James H. Pou Bailey, Retired Senior 2004 The Hon. Wanda G. Bryant, N.C. Court of Appeals Judge,10th Judicial District 2005 Mark Swanger, Haywood, County Commissioner 1992 Sharon Pennell, Journalism Professor, ASU 2006 Bob Hall, Democracy North Carolina Member, Caldwell County Board of Education 2007 Joe Sinsheimer 1993 Senator Marc Basnight 2008 Tom McClure and Eldridge Painter of Sylva 1994 Dr. Gene Lanier, East Carolina University and Jim Rowell of Cullowhee 1995 Franz Holsher, Gastonia City Council 2009 No winner 1996 Dr. Margaret Blanchard, UNC-CH School of 2010 Cathy Packer Journalism & Mass Communication 2011 No winner 1997 Mayor Tom Gwyn, Elkin, N.C. 2014 Rep. Marilyn Avila 1998 Senator Roy Cooper 2015 Sen. Norman Sanderson 1999 Senator David Hoyle 2016 C. Amanda Martin 2000 Attorney Jon Buchan 2017 Cody Henson 2018 Rep. Mitchell Setzer

2 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 3

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 2-3 2/5/20 1:55 PM GENERAL EXCELLENCE 2019 NCPA Awards 2019 / Editorial Excellence

GENERAL EXCELLENCE DIVISION A DIVISION B DIVISION C DIVISION D DIVISION E DIVISION F ONLINE FOR WEBSITES

INSIDE: YOUR GUIDE TO THE FESTIVAL OF TREES an ALL THE EVENTS THE SANDHILLS HAS TO OFFER THIS SEASON SnowfallsagainintheTriad /A9 StarNews Media would like to thank Wilmington Funeral & Cremation for supporting our 150th anniversary celebration. Turn to page A-7 to read more.

WILMINGTON, N.C. DIVISION A Vol. 98, No. 93 72 Pages Southern Pines, N.C. Price 50 Cents W EDNESDAY , N OVEMBER 2 2 , 2 0 1 7

IT’S ON TO ALABAMA March 25, 2018 $2.00 SUNDAY www.journalnow.com Acouplewithcreativevision D1 N. Moore Theater Takes State Honors Saturday, November 11, 2017 StarNewsOnline.com @starnewsonline facebook.com/StarNewsMedia $1 1ST PLACE BY MARY KATE MURPHY two plays, which qualify to compete at the Staff Writer Southeastern Theater Conference festival in Ashton Dillon and SPORTS | B1 Listening to the results of the North Mobile, Ala., next March, were announced. Chelsea Williams Carolina Theater Conference’s state play The judges’ choice for Distinguished Play rehearse for WOLFPACK festival, Ashton Dillon stood in the electri- went to Charlotte Country Day School’s pro- North Moore High MOVES ON ‘ENOUGHISENOUGH’ duction, “Eurydice.” Crossroads Chronicle ’ed crowd of high school thespians feeling School’s In the evening’s ’nal revelation, North 1,500 people crowd entirely content just to be there. one act play, Whiteville slides When he was called to accept one of the fes- Moore’s entry “Tuesdays and Sundays” was ‘Tuesdays and past North Wilkes Corpening Plaza tival’s 10 Excellence in Acting awards, and the audience’s choice for Distinguished Sundays.’ his co-star and fellow North Moore senior Play, and North Carolina’s second slot at the to demand Chelsea Williams took one of two Outstanding Southeastern festival. TED FITZGERALD/The Pilot change in wake Achievement in Acting awards, that iced the of school shootings ’gurative cake. Finally, the festival’s top THEATER 2ND PLACE see , page A9

BY JENNY DRABBLE A wider Winston-Salem Journal More than 1,500 people stood in complete silence Saturday in tribute to the Hendersonville Lightning Front Street? 17 people killed in a school Winging It shooting in Parkland, Fla., last month. DOT proposing to add the DOT. The lingering moment Speaker lanes south of Cape “The purpose of this proj- of silence Fear Memorial Bridge ect is to improve congestion Moreinside was juxta- on this portion of Front posed with By Tim Buckland Street,” he said. “It’s a des- Mother, young the fiery 3RD PLACE son make StarNews Staff ignated truck route. This is speeches statement needed to help relieve that that would at Winston- Defends WILMINGTON — The congestion and improve follow at Salem march. Corpening N.C. Department of Trans- truck access to the ports.” Page A4 portation will host a public Harding said right-of- Plaza in meeting Monday on its plans way acquisition is planned Thousands downtown Winston- to widen a mile-long stretch to begin in 2021, with con- of protesters Cherokee One Feather Salem, of South Front Street from struction starting in 2023. descend on Washington. calling for two lanes to four. The project is likely going Districts Page A22 an end to The $27 million project to take about two years to gun vio- would expand the road, a complete. Go lence and BY DAVID SINCLAIR thoroughfare often used Nearly 26,500 vehicles use Managing Editor online stricter by trucks heading to and that stretch of South Front, gun laws State House Speaker Tim Moore from the Port of Wilm- according to the city’s latest For more photos and as part of said Monday during a visit to ington and the Cape Fear traffic count. the inter- Moore County that the Republican- video, visit Memorial Bridge, from The project comes on the this story at national controlled General Assembly will take the bridge to South Front heels of the soon-to-be fin- JournalNow. March for its case to the U.S. Supreme Court, if Street’s intersection with ished reconstruction of the com Our Lives. need be, to defend its newly redrawn Burnett Boulevard and Car- Greenfield Lake culvert on “A re th e legislative districts. olina Beach Road, said Brian lives of our “We believe that our original maps Harding, design engineer for See STREET, A10 children worth less than ALLISON LEE ISLEY/JOURNAL that we passed in 2011 [CONTRIBUTED] the funds from the NRA?” Scarlett Bostwick, 11, participates in a moment of silence with the rest of the attendees at the March for Our Lives Winston-Salem on Saturday at and our current maps MARCH, Page A4 Corpening Plaza. Bostwick attended the march with her father, Gary. The moment of silence honored the 17 victims of the Florida school shooting. DIVISION B that we passed (in Want to go? August) following this mandate fully com- What: DOT meeting on South Where: Sunset Park Elemen- I’m afraid of going to school every day. I should be going to school to learn, not to ply with the law,” he Front Street widening tary School, 613 Alabama Ave., told the Moore County Remembering When: 5 to 7 p.m. Monday Wilmington worry if it’s my last day alive or if I told my mom I loved her before I left for school. Republican Men’s Club MOORE during its monthly lun- Cassie Daukas, freshman at Reagan High School cheon at the Country Club of North Carolina. “The new maps we adopted several months ago were LOCAL | A2 1ST PLACE based on what the federal courts told us Normandy HOLY we had to do. For example, ‘Don’t take race into account.’” SPIRITS Cardinal Innovations TED FITZGERALD/The Pilot He also said later in his address that Behavioral health crisis Union Pines High School assistant principal Travis Kemp struts around campus on Tuesday to celebrate collecting the legislature may revisit the voter ID Veteran Otto Markert was there when the most cash for Relay for Life, adhering to the challenge presented at the beginning of the fundraising effort. law issue — the 4th U.S. Circuit Court New church to disclose results of of Appeals struck it down last year — American troops stormed Omaha Beach holds services in a brewery Coastland Times through a possible state constitutional center nears opening amendment. By Austin Suther | StarNews Correspondent “We didn’t know where we ex-CEO, board probe Moore and the attorney representing were going, just knowing the General Assembly contend that a DayMark will shift THANKSGIVING INTERFAITH SERVICE n June 6, 1944 — D-Day — Otto Mark- we were going on the BY RICHARD CRAVER Cohen, along with interim Stanford University professor tapped ert stormed Omaha Beach. He was 20. invasion of France.” services April 23 Winston-Salem Journal chief executive Trey Sutten. by a panel of three federal judges did Now 93, he remembers the time he spent It was conducted by Mc- use race as a factor in offering up pos- and expand to 24/7 in service to his country in detail. Otto Markert, who served Accord on revised The results of an inde- GuireWoods partner Kurt 2ND PLACE sible changes to some of the districts. Giving Thanks Spans Age, Beliefs, Affiliations Markert was attending Williamson Trade in the U.S. Army during the BY RICHARD CRAVER pendent investigation into Meyers, a former federal The General Assembly was forced to School training to become a bricklayer. D-Day invasion at Normandy Winston-Salem Journal controversial actions by prosecutor. enact new legislative district maps in Cardinal Innovations’ for- The agency said the BY DEBORAH SALOMON Prayers of Thanksgiving Interfaith Sam Walker then gathered children OEach year 50 students from across the country were selected Paci c pact stalled August after the U.S. Supreme Court Behavioral health ser- mer executive director and news conference will focus Features Writer Service this past Sunday. on the altar steps for a story-parable to attend the school. He was in his final year when he was af’rmed the Court of Appeals’ ruling drafted. Veterans Day parade vices are set to debut at a board of directors will be re- on “activities leading up Deep blue skies, a sinking sun, cool Attendance, more than 200, ex- illustrating global unity. Amanda dedicated 24/7 crisis- and vealed Monday at the agen- to the termination of, and last year that found 28 of the state leg- “They wouldn’t let me finish my schooling because it was By Tran Van Minh “It was said that it is not temperatures and a light wind blow- ceeded the number of programs, so and Jeff Bryan brought their four, islative districts were unconstitution- urgent-care center in east cy’sCharlotte headquarters. severance payment made, ing yellow leaves from the trees sur- people had to share, a ’tting image. all under 12, “to expose them to dif- a free school,” said Markert. “If it was paid, the government The New Hanover County and Elaine Kurtenbach at a stage where (the agree- Winston-Salem. Cardinal oversees pro- to” Richard Topping. It will Bladen Journal al racial gerrymanders. Moore took would have done something about it.” Veterans Council will hold The Associated Press ment) can be confirmed at the rounding Seven Lakes Chapel in the Emphasis was on youth, with the ferent religious beliefs,” Amanda exception that the federal judges The Cardinal Wellness viders of services for men- feature a presentation by Pines: an appropriate setting for at- performance of “He’s Got the Whole Bryan said. Drafted into the Army and assigned to the a port battal- its inaugural Southeast summit level,” said Abe, who Center is scheduled to tal health, developmental Meyers and a question- tendees of all beliefs and many ages World in his Hands” by Little Notes, ion attached to the 69th Amphibious Engineers, Markert’s North Carolina Veteran's Day DANANG, Vietnam — Talks was to co-chair the meet- open by early April. It will disabilities and substance and-answer period. to give thanks at the 12th annual the chapel’s children’s choir. Rev. see SERVICE, page A4 see SPEAKER, page A8 task was unloading ships Parade beginning at 9:30 a.m. on a Pacific Rim trade pact ing. He made the comments feature community educa- abuse for more than “We’re having an inde- in port. Saturday, Nov. 11 in down- abandoned by U.S. President to Japanese reporters after tional initiatives and sup- ALLISON LEE ISLEY/JOURNAL 850,000 Medicaid enroll- pendent investigation to He trained at Camp Lee town Wilmington. The parade Donald Trump appeared to meeting with his Canadian port, as well as work space. Patrick Gavin, vice president of Cardinal Innovations Health Care, opens the door to ees in 20 counties, includ- determine how the sever- in Northern Virginia. “It steps off at the Cape Fear have stalled Friday as Canada counterpart, Justin Trudeau, DayMark Recovery Ser- the DayMark Recovery Services’ outpatient clinic. ing Forsyth and five others ance was being paid,” Sut- 3RD PLACE wasn’t vicious training,” Community College parking balked at a basic agreement who stayed away from the vices’ emergency clinic will in theTriad. It handles more ten told legislators during said Markert, “it was rifle lot between Brunswick and worked out in ministerial- planned TPP leaders’ gather- shift the weekend of April The facility will be configuration of services cess to crisis services.” than $675 million in annual an oversight committee shooting, pistol shooting.” Hanover streets, heads south level talks hours before. ing while most other leaders 23 from the county Behav- staffed by nurses and peer meets the original goals The idea for the center federal and state Medicaid meeting in February.“We’re After basic training he on Front Street, then takes a Trump pulled out of the showed up. ioral Health Plaza to the specialists and open to the of members, hospitals, surfaced in April 2014 with money. collecting the facts and we Vito’s Delivers Disaster Relief Funds to Italy was sent out to the RMS left on Orange Street before Trans-Pacific Partnership There was no immedi- Highland center. public for all urgent-care law enforcement, first re- CenterPoint Human Ser- The investigation by Mc- fully intend to get to the Queen Mary and shipped ending at the historic USO/ in January. Leaders of the 11 ate word from Canada on its The services repre- needs. sponders and stakehold- vices considering a $2.6 GuireWoods LLP was re- bottom of this.” to Southampton, England. Community Arts Center, 120 S. countries remaining in the stance. However, Trudeau sent the first fruits of a Cardinal Innovations, ers for crisis and integrated million crisis center proj- quested by a reconstituted The news conference will BY LAURA DOUGLASS Nearly 300 people Touched by the tragedy, Vito’s Ristorante There weren’t enough Second St. TPP had been due to meet and had said days earlier that multi-year project for the the state’s largest behav- care while providing a co- ect off Ivy Avenue to serve board, formed in Janu- follow a two-day Cardinal Chatham News & Record lost their lives in Staff Writer and Pizzeria in Southern Pines began collect- bunks on the ship despite More Veterans Day events, C3. endorse a deal worked out in Canada would not be rushed 43,000-square-foot build- ioral health managed care ordinated full continuum residents of Forsyth, Davie, ary and approved by state board meeting that ended On Aug. 24, 2016, a magnitude 6.2 earth- ing funds to help those affected by the earth- its massive size, so many last-minute talks overnight. into an agreement. ing at 650 Highland Ave. organization, said the“new of care, including 24/7 ac- CENTER, Page A6 health Secretary Mandy CARDINAL, Page A14 the quake, over [AUSTIN SUTHER/STARNEWS] 10,000 were left quake hit the Apennines Mountains in central quake. Vito Gironda, who owns the restau- troops including Markert Japanese Prime Minister The chances for a deal by Italy. Several small towns in the region were rant along with this twin brother, Frank, is homeless, and the slept in hallways. To pass the four-day trek, they rested and More inside Shinzo Abe said Friday that the time the summit ends on devastated, including the foodie destination originally from Italy. gambled. They did not see daylight the entire time. the 11 leaders had to postpone Saturday were unclear. Local News A Nation/World A22 Business C Books D2 Morningmist economic impact Amatrice. Several years ago, Vito’s held a similar “It would come over the loud speaker not to worry about Local Veterans Day deals, A10 their meeting on the sidelines Earlier in the day, officials Winston-SalemJournal Since1897 Lotteries A2 Obits A24 Editorials C6, C7 Television D2 High 47,Low 31 on the region Amatrice “is not here anymore,” the city’s fundraiser and raised $4,400 for earthquake CONTRIBUTED being hit by submarines because they can’t track us” of the annual summit of the from Japan and some other ©2018 Winston-Salem Journal 121st year, No. 357 More, A28 was estimated mayor told reporters in the immediate after- Vito and Jan Gironda with the mayor of says Markert, “and we could outrun them faster than the Asia-Pacific Economic Coop- countries expressed differing SAM A2 Sports B The Arts D Crossword D5 at $6 billion. math. “Half the town no longer exists.” see RELIEF, page A8 Amatrice, Sergio Pirozzi eration forum in Danang,

See NORMANDY, A5 Vietnam. See PACT, A10 Piedmont Opera & Hanesbrands Inc. presentPiedmont Gilbert Opera and presents Sullivan’s

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,! / 0' 6- 7 $ 8 9 3 + ,! / 0' 6- 7 $ 2 < 3 + ,! / 0' 6- 7 $ 2 8 3 + 1ST PLACE Business D1-6 Communities D6 Opinion B1-2 Religion C8-9 Printed on Copyright 2017 B3-6 A7 C3 A5-6 100% recycled Classified Ads Obituaries Puzzles Sports paper The Pilot Smoky Mountain News FIRST PLACE FIRST PLACE FIRST PLACE FIRST PLACE FIRST PLACE FIRST PLACE FIRST PLACE 2ND PLACE CROSSROADS CHRONICLE STATE PORT PILOT THE PILOT WILSON TIMES STARNEWS WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS Mountaineer 3RD PLACE YES! Weekly DIVISION D 1ST PLACE High Point Enterprise 2ND PLACE Statesville Record & Landmark 3RD PLACE Star (Shelby) DIVISION E 1ST PLACE StarNews SECOND PLACE SECOND PLACE SECOND PLACE SECOND PLACE SECOND PLACE SECOND PLACE SECOND PLACE 2ND PLACE NORTH STATE JOURNAL WAKE WEEKLY MOUNTAIN XPRESS TIMES-NEWS SALISBURY POST NEWS & RECORD BLOWING ROCK NEWS Herald-Sun 3RD PLACE Asheville Citizen-Times

SPORTS Painful loss at Wake Forest adds to N.C. State’s misery 1B DIVISION F

FOUNDED 1894 FACEBOOK.COM/NEWSANDOBSERVER NEWSALL DAY. Mostly sunny VOLUME 153, No.324 TWITTER.COM/NEWSOBSERVER YOUR WAY. MONDAY NOVEMBER 20 2017 $1.50 54°/32° See 10B 1ST PLACE

NEWSOBSERVER.COM AF News & Observer ATLANTIC COAST PIPELINE NAACP: Wake studies farming Pipeline will 2ND PLACE harm poor people of forfood solutions color most Winston-Salem Journal

BY MARTHA QUILLIN [email protected] 3RD PLACE Building the Atlantic Coast Pipeline through low-income Eastern North Carolina counties would force people of color to bear more than their share of the risks posed by the nation’s power infrastructure, the Charlotte Observer NAACP said in areport released Tuesday. “African Americanand other environmental justice communi- ties face heavy burdens because of the millions of pounds of hazardousemissions released by the oil and gas industry each year,” said the report, titled “Fumes Across the Fence Line.” “Many African American communities face serious health risks as aresult of toxic pollu- tion from industrial facilities that are often located blocks DIVISION O from their homes. These life- threatening burdens are the result of systemic oppression perpetuated by the traditional energy industry, which exposes communities to health, econom- ic and social hazards.” Developers of the pipeline BEN MCKEOWN dispute the report’s claims. DannyPage, owner of Page Farms,inspects his strawberrycropinMarch. Wake County leaders arediscussing ways to supportlocal farmers. The pipeline is aproject of 1ST PLACE Dominion Energy, Duke Ener- gy, Piedmont Natural Gas and trepreneurs.” pantries in or near schools to Southern Company Gas, acol- BY HENRY GARGAN “The real prohibitive piece of help families who don’t have lective that hopes to build the $5 [email protected] getting started in farming is the enough to eat at home. It also billion-plusproject in 2018 and cost of the land,” he said.“So if has a“backpack buddies” pro- begin using it in 2019. The near- RALEIGH you can provide this land at no gram that allows students to ly 600-mile line would run from Wake County is known for its or low cost, it gives the farmer a take food home with them. Richmond Observer West Virginia into Virginia and technologycompanies and ur- real leg up in terms of abusiness Wake now provides free through North Carolina, and banizing communities, but model.” breakfast to all students at 25 would be used to transport elected leaders want to boost a Farming used to play abigger schools and hopes to expand the fracked natural gas from the lower-profile economic driver: role in the Triangle, but afive- program to every school in Marcellus shale drilling region farming. county region that includes which more than 50 percent of in West Virginia, Ohioand Using language familiar to the Wake has lost about 15 percent students come from low-income Pennsylvania. The gas would be Triangle’sstart-up culture – News &Observerfile photo of its farmland since 1997. households. 2ND PLACE used primarily by power gener- words like “incubation” and Wake leaders envision leasing About one-fourth of the Trian- Anew comprehensive food ating plants. “entrepreneurship” –Wake county-owned farmland to grow gle is now made up of agricultu- plan places an emphasis on Its proponents have promised commissioners want to provide fruits and vegetables forschool ral land. where food comes from and that construction of the line opportunities for the next gener- lunches or farmers markets. Wake County leaders have how it is distributed in Wake, as THIRD PLACE THIRD PLACE THIRD PLACE THIRD PLACE THIRD PLACE would bring 17,000 temporaryTHIRDation of farmers as land contin- PLACEbeen focusing on the impor- food access is increasingly seen THIRD PLACE jobs, would keep energy costs ues to become more scarce. One tance of helping to feed poor as both an economic devel- Island Free Press lower for North Carolinausers, idea is for farmers to lease coun- erty south of Knightdale for families, and they see farming opment factor and asocial serv- and would be safe. ty-owned farmland to grow county-backed agricultural uses. as part of the solution. One in ices concern. Critics say it is unnecessary fruits and vegetables that could Wake paid $1.6 million to help seven Wake residents is “food “Wake County has more because North Carolina already end up in school lunches or at the Conservancy acquire and insecure,” meaningthey aren’t farmland than most counties in HIGHLANDER CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS GOLDSBORO NEWS-ARGUS ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES is bisected by agas pipelineNEWS to local farmers markets. &preserve OBSERVER the land in 2013. consistently sure where their the state,” said Matt Calabria, COASTAL REVIEW ONLINE which power companies have Officials are in talks with the Sig Hutchinson,chairman of next meal will come from. vice chairman of the commis- access; there are no guarantees nonprofit Triangle Land Conser- the commissioners, said he Among children, the figure is sioners. “Not alot of people 3RD PLACE vancy about using aportion of envisionedthe county leasing 4- even higher: one in five. SEE PIPELINE, 8A the 405-acre Walnut Hill prop- to 10-acre plots to “agri-en- The county now runs 10 food SEE FARMING, 4A

week’s school board meeting. Local tennis groups want School officials are surveying N.C. Policy Watch high schools about what they’re doing now with their courts. But greater accesstocourts Joe Desormeaux, assistantsu- perintendent for facilities, said at Wake County schools that any greater public use of tennis courts has to be weighed against the additional costs of public use, but local tennis maintaining and operating BY T. KEUNGHUI groups say more than 94 locked them. [email protected] high school tennis courts can’t “Taxpayers built it, but you’ve be used by the community. also got to maintain and operate RALEIGH These tennis supporters want it,” Desormeaux said. “If you Taxpayers helped fund the Wake to open up those school don’t have everything we need tennis courts built at schools courts to help ease ashortage of in our budget, we’re not neces- around Wake County, but doz- local public courts. sarily maintaining and operating ens of those courts are behind “Courts sitting empty when it to the level which it is used locked gates with warning signs there’s ahigh demand in Wake beyond what our students use.” CHRIS SEWARD [email protected] telling people to keep out. County for tennis just doesn’t Courts are generally locked Aworker puts the finishing touches on the newtennis courts at Some towns have agreements make sense,” Julie Dick, exec- up after there have been mul- Athens DriveHigh School in August 2016.Tennis groups want Wake with the Wake school system to utive director of the Raleigh 4 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards County schools to openmoreoftheir tennis courts to the public. open school tennis courts for Tennis Association, said at last SEE TENNIS, 8A 5 CUSTOMER SERVICE Classified Obituaries Television To subscribe or reportdeliveryissues, 9B 7A 8B Comics 6B Opinion 9A Triangle 3A 800-522-4205 or newsobserver.com/customer-service Lotteries 2A Sports 1B Underthe Dome 2A

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 4-5 2/5/20 1:55 PM DIVISION A Community newspapers under 3,500 circulation 2019 / Editorial Excellence

APPEARANCE AND BEAT FEATURE 3rd Place 3rd Place 2nd Place ELECTION/POLITICAL HEADLINE WRITING 3rd Place DESIGN REPORTING ASHE POST & TIMES SPRING HOPE ENTERPRISE HENDERSONVILLE LIGHTNING REPORTING 1st Place YADKIN RIPPLE 1st Place 1st Place Ian Taylor Staff Bill Moss 1st Place AVERY JOURNAL TIMES Kitsey Burns Harrison NORTH STATE JOURNAL HIGHLANDER Captured! Christmas comes to Spring Hope; Tap Root Proposal, Planning Broken, HENDERSONVILLE LIGHTNING Carl Blankenship Kitsey Harrison Light Columns Lauren Rose Dan Brown This represents a solid job of reporting. Middlesex board Road won’t be the same Bill Moss Budding Industry This columnist really tamed this North State Journal Make A Wish Kid dedicates new house Everything a reader might want to know Excellent analysis of the growth issue McGrady takes on redistricting and Great story to go along with a great shrew, Shakespeare not withstanding. By far the best looking, easiest to read Feel-good article that puts storytelling first. about the situation is presented clearly and the lack of adequate planning to liquor laws against the odds March 13 headline Refreshingly personal! and concisely. paper of the entries. I would subscribe EDITORIAL PAGE accommodated it. Writer is obviously The reporter’s rapport with the subject well-connected with the community, its to this paper if only to enjoy the layout. 2nd Place 1st Place shines through in this piece. A good look 2nd Place MAGAZINE OR NICHE transportation needs and housing issues. Well done! NORTH STATE JOURNAL BUSINESS WRITING HIGHLANDER at telling political stories with a human- NORTH STATE JOURNAL PUBLICATION 1st Place Excellent arguments, clear and concise interest touch. Staff Brett Friedlander Ryan Hanchett writing. Your community is lucky to have 1st Place 2nd Place HENDERSONVILLE LIGHTNING NSJ Headlines ‘The baddest band in the land’ The Highlander Editorial Page such a newspaper to keep on top of the MEBANE ENTERPRISE SPRING HOPE ENTERPRISE Bill Moss 2nd Place Clever! Makes me interested in seeing this band Oh, how to describe this editorial page? issues that affect its residents most. Bravo! Mebane Enterprise Staff Staff for myself, which is what any good feature Businesses along tracks say, yes, in my Fun to read. A pleasure to look at. A CHEROKEE ONE FEATHER Mebane Enterprise 2019 Newcomer’s Inmate sues over jail conditions; should do backyard weekly snapshot of life in what must be a 3rd Place Scott Brings Plenty ILLUSTRATION/PHOTO Guide Hardware store wonderful small town. Highlights include HIGHLANDER Series of articles on three candidates ILLUSTRATION/PRINT OR Packs a lot of useful information into Good use of graphics as gateway to stories; 3rd Place 2nd Place an editorial on the complete lack of bears Ryan Hanchett seeking election certification INTERACTIVE GRAPHICS 72 pages. Does a good job with a fairly liked front photo of sleeping conditions in NORTH STATE JOURNAL roaming around town, and a heartfelt Good explanatory work on ballot qualifying HIGHLANDER The Highlander Editorial Writing 1st Place common publication. My only problem detention center (we have same problem Jordan Golson letter to the editor from a woman whose with it is I’m not sold on the blue and Dan Brown Encouraging participation in the electoral NORTH STATE JOURNAL sleeping problem here); good use of putting dog keeled over and died on a walk, and brown headlines. Seems like one of the Cadillac of crossovers Stone Lantern to close after 59 years process, explaining the processes and the 3rd Place people into graphics. the Episcopalians who prayed for him. Lauren Rose colors should be more dominate and bold. The writer gives a glimpse at what it’s reasons for doing so are a newspaper’s HENDERSONVILLE LIGHTNING Beautiful, all of it. Hit the road! Both shades together seem a little weak. like to be a auto journalist -- but next 3rd Place bread and butter. Good work. Bill Moss 3rd Place More contrast between them would likely time should disclose the value of all these Gay pride proclamation draws dissent CHEROKEE ONE FEATHER NORTH STATE JOURNAL 2nd Place 2nd Place remedy this. luxury trips he’s going on to write reviews Frank Hill from council members, June 12 Scott Brings Plenty intended to sell vehicles. Smoky Mountain Times EDUCATION REPORTING NORTH STATE JOURNAL Cherokee One Feather Seafood supplier hit by Florence Staff 1st Place Lauren Rose MULTIMEDIA PROJECT recovers using grant from ‘Sunday AVERY JOURNAL TIMES FEATURE WRITING Some terrific photos, love the fly fishing BEAT NEWS REPORTING Smoky Mountain Times Editorial Where are the black bears? 1st Place Supper’ Carl Blankenship 1st Place guide and those ads are very eye popping. 1st Place page MEBANE ENTERPRISE Avery County High School renovation YADKIN RIPPLE NEWS-JOURNAL Clean, crisp design. Good writing. And 3rd Place K. Adam Powell project coverage Kitsy Burns Harrison ARTS AND Catharin Shepard CITY, COUNTY transparent. At the bottom of the page NORTH STATE JOURNAL Mebane Fourth of July Multimedia are the names and mugs shots of the Very comprehensive coverage of Avery Lake Alpine feature - Kitsey Harrison ENTERTAINMENT State Alleges Abuse In Hoke Psych GOVERNMENT Lauren Rose Project newspaper’s editorial staff. This proves County High School project from REPORTING North Carolina Debutantes Article accurately portrays fun/festive feel REPORTING Facility that inky wretches are people, too. a variety of pertinent sources. Nice 2nd Place and captures essence of the event in word, 1st Place 1st Place explanation of some financial processes CROSSROADS CHRONICLE while video gives life to the descriptions. AVERY JOURNAL TIMES 2nd Place HENDERSONVILLE LIGHTNING like the bidding process. Timeline LEDE 3rd Place Dan Brown Carl Blankenship NEWS-JOURNAL Bill Moss sidebar is helpful in helping reader better 1st Place NORTH STATE JOURNAL Trio fish cell from drain 2nd Place Pretty in Pink Fashion Show raises Catharin Shepard A tall Tale understand the project. Good job of NORTH STATE JOURNAL Staff CHOWAN HERALD funds Nonprofit Health Center Faces A great article on residents fighting for covering the issues that existed between Shawn Krest NSJ Editorials November 2018 3rd Place Staff This story was absolutely wonderful. Shutdown local standards. the Board of Education and the Board of Ledes by Shawn Krest A variety of opinions and outlooks, plus Commissioners. NEWS-JOURNAL You couldn’t help but put yourself in the Clever ledes that pack a punch with wit Chowan Herald-July 4 multimedia strong design. Ken MacDonald entry womens’ shoes. It was a very moving and 3rd Place 2nd Place and leave readers wanting to know more. 2nd Place “Now We Have Been Touched” Coverage of event heightened by use of inspiring ‘work of art’ for this story. BERTIE LEDGER-ADVANCE NORTH STATE JOURNAL Emmie Brooks EDITORIALS NEWS-JOURNAL video, which included additional/new Thadd White 1st Place LIGHTER COLUMNS 2nd Place Uptown Greenville: A transformation Catharin Shepard GENERAL NEWS information. Vidant Bertie certified Stroke Ready JOHNSTONIAN NEWS 1st Place CHEROKEE ONE FEATHER story 25 Years Ago Leandro Changed Public REPORTING SPRING HOPE ENTERPRISE Jonah Lossiah Corey Friedman Education NEWS ENTERPRISE BREAKING NEWS School board’s; Censorship; policy 1st Place Ken Ripley Even as we breathe 3rd Place Nice 25th anniversary story about the REPORTING Excellent First Amendment defense of NEWS-JOURNAL Vow; monarch; Greenland JONAH LOSSIAH really draws the COVERAGE SMOKY MOUNTAIN TIMES Leandro decision and its implications 1st Place an unconstitutional policy of the school Catharin Shepard A columnist with class, insight and reader in. Lossiah gave so much detail, 1st Place 25 years later. Well organized, good job HENDERSONVILLE LIGHTNING Jessica Webb district. Its officials should be ashamed, Dogs Kill Livestock, Residents Seek historical perspective warped with not-so- that I felt as if I was getting a glimpse MEBANE ENTERPRISE of quoting someone involved with the Strays a problem, public says at especially considering they are teaching Help cynical humor. Fresh and refreshing! Bill Moss into Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle’s book, K. Adam Powell ruling when it was made, as well as those hearing the next generation of students. The These stories were really hard to read in The Serpentine Solution September ‘Even as We Breathe’. Breaking News Coverage - involved as its beneficiaries now. Story is newspaper’s readers should be proud to well researched. all their gruesome detail, but the writer 2nd Place 18 and 25 Conservator’s Center Tragedy have an advocate on their side, especially did a great job of covering this issue. Those NORTH CAROLINA LAWYERS Excellent article. I enjoyed every word. 3rd Place COMMUNITY COVERAGE Excellent job of reporting a tragic story. one who can explain the ramifications of terrible details set this story apart from WEEKLY CHEROKEE ONE FEATHER 1st Place 3rd Place The dramatic situation is recounted such a bad policy. Excellent arguments, simple coverage of a news event. David Donovan 2nd Place Scott Brings Plenty thoroughly and thoughtfully. Excellent use CHEROKEE ONE FEATHER NORTH STATE JOURNAL clear and concise writing. Imagine all Sidebar NORTH STATE JOURNAL Cherokee Performing Arts taking risks of quotes. Robert Jumper, Scott Brings Plenty, those communities that no longer have a A.P. Dillon 2nd Place Deftly written by pseudonymous David Larson Jonah Lossiah newspaper like this one. Chilling. Kudos General Assembly debates education with “Into the Woods” SMOKY MOUNTAIN TIMES “Sidebar”, these columns focus on minutia Opioid-related deaths continue to 2nd Place Cherokee One Feather to your newspaper! funding plans A charming piece and excellent Jessica Webb surrounding and within the publication’s Good piece about opposing strategies impact NC communities background information on former plays NORTH STATE JOURNAL community. They are GREAT! Something of a bond issue vs legislation to support Road to nowhere tunnel’s future Well written and organized piece as well. A.P. Dillon 2nd Place unique on your way to the BIG stories. education funding in NC. Well uncertain Graffiti campaign opposes state HIGHLANDER Call them the pauses that truly refresh researched, and well written, with quotes health plan changes The Highlander Staff the reader. from sources on both sides of the aisle. 3rd Place The Highlander Community Coverage Fine reporting. This has a catchy lead and Nicely balanced story, well organized. SPRING HOPE ENTERPRISE does a good job of explaining the health plan issues. Lindell Kay Inmate sues jail

6 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 7

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 6-7 2/5/20 1:55 PM DIVISION A Community newspapers under 3,500 circulation 2019 / Editorial Excellence

3rd Place PHOTOGRAPHY, FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTS 3rd Place 2nd Place SPORTS FEATURE 2nd Place 3rd Place NORTH CAROLINA LAWYERS 1st Place FEATURE CROSSROADS CHRONICLE HENDERSONVILLE LIGHTNING WRITING CROSSROADS CHRONICLE CROSSROADS CHRONICLE WEEKLY GRAHAM STAR 1st Place Dan Brown Lightning Staff 1st Place Don Richeson Don Richeson Bill Cresenzo Art Miller CHEROKEE ONE FEATHER Phil “Slick” Monteith -- unofficial Season of Giving HIGHLANDER Use of Photographs, July 3 and 10, How Crossroads Chronicle uses social Getting plugged back in: New Awe-Inspiring Sight Scott Brings Plenty mayor? Fabulous layout. I like how this wasn’t Dan Brown 2019 media certificate of relief law will help more A beautiful and well-constructed Photos of the Anetsodi stickball Well-written story. The writer is obviously just about gifts and Christmas, but Ledford Racing Toward New Life Great photos that fit the stories and the people get fresh starts photo using the lunar eclipse. challenge having fun, and that shows in an about actually giving back and helping/ Not only a great piece of writing, but quality is very good. VIDEO volunteering. Good job of informing the public on this An unusual sport with photos telling an engaging story. important insight into the life of a 3rd Place 1st Place topic 2nd Place interesting story of the game. recovering addict. Excellent work here. NEWS-JOURNAL MEBANE ENTERPRISE 3rd Place CHEROKEE ONE FEATHER RELIGION & FAITH Staff K. Adam Powell NEWS-JOURNAL NEWS FEATURE WRITING Scott Brings Plenty 2nd Place REPORTING 2nd Place Use of Photographs “Ragged Old Flag” Memorial Day Staff 1st Place Photos of the Annual Kituwah CHEROKEE ONE FEATHER 1st Place NORTH STATE JOURNAL 2019 Tribute Hoke Heartbeat SMOKY MOUNTAIN TIMES Celebration Jonah Lossiah MEBANE ENTERPRISE Shawn Krest USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA The panning is still a bit too fast and Excellent layout, pictures, and content. Melissa Ezro Expressions are clear. Very good use of Photo of Braves Head Coach David K. Adam Powell Chazz Surratt 1st Place frequent, but this does tell the story of Amazing heath and medical resources. The many circumstances of the focus and background. Napert Haitian Mission Provides Dental Care, Excellent work catching the reader’s CHEROKEE ONE FEATHER that memorial service and lingers long homeless Great sports feature lead to a story about Construction attention with the tapping element. Robert Jumper, Scott Brings Plenty, enough on faces to let them react. Could easily see this running in a Well done story about the travails of a 3rd Place the coach. SPORTS COLUMNS Jonah Lossiah 1st Place national publication. man who became homeless after a failed CHEROKEE ONE FEATHER 2nd Place Cherokee One Feather NORTH STATE JOURNAL marriage in a community with few Scott Brings Plenty 3rd Place NORTH STATE JOURNAL Does a really good job of integrating Shawn Krest 3rd Place resources for helping the homeless. Photo of hawk flying TARBORO WEEKLY David Larson digital content with the printed Gano’s miss costs Panthers AVERY JOURNAL TIMES Very crisp photo ... almost to the point Sarah Louya NC Methodists vote to condemn publication 2nd Place Interesting writing style that captured the Jamie Shell where it looks fake. We’re able to see all the From the Heart ‘Traditional Plan’ TARBORO WEEKLY reader and made the column stand out. Feature Series: Former professional details easily Fun photo for a sports feature story. I 2nd Place John H. Walker wrestler Curtis Thompson can see others in the background, plus an 3rd Place CHOWAN HERALD Football stars stress reading errant photographer, grrrr. 2nd Place Workmanlike piece. Reads easy, PHOTOGRAPHY, AVERY JOURNAL TIMES Staff importance CHEROKEE ONE FEATHER transitions are smooth and quotes are Chowan Herald GENERAL NEWS Jamie Shell excellent. Some grafs are packed with a Solid story about athletes returning to PHOTOGRAPHY, SPOT Scott Brings Plenty Very well done 1st Place Timely Truths bit too much info and run long. Would their hometown to encourage reading. On the Sidelines NORTH STATE JOURNAL 1st Place elevate with higher stakes. Overall a Good descriptions. Good series of columns that reflects the Isabelle Lavalette Graham Star highly-enjoyable story. SERIOUS COLUMNS importance of sports within a community Sir Walter Wally Emerges From The Art Miller 3rd Place 1st Place Shadows ‘It Was a Nightmare’ SPORTS NEWS AVERY JOURNAL TIMES Great spot news. Got an overall view with ELKIN TRIBUNE SPORTS COVERAGE Carl Blankenship Bill Colvard 1st Place REPORTING 2nd Place fall colors and leaves on the road. Got a Turkey fryer plays pivotal role in Beech closer view below the embankment. Serious columns - Bill Colvard NORTH STATE JOURNAL 1st Place SMOKY MOUNTAIN TIMES diver rescue The September 11 column is very good, Staff NORTH STATE JOURNAL Teddy Greene Smart story, strong context about dangers 2nd Place restrained — a witnessed thing. Overall NSJ Sports Coverage Brett Friedlander Fourth of July Heat of hypothermia. Just an overall good story. CROSSROADS CHRONICLE a good collection, a contender, maybe a “Only entry in this category, so first Baseball back in Fayetteville with winner. Don Richeson place by default, but would be hard to new stadium 3rd Place PHOTO PAGE OR ESSAY Winter storm Diego dumps a foot- top if there were a dozen entries. Crisp TARBORO WEEKLY 2nd Place 1st Place plus snow on Cashiers writing, clean layout. The best aspect 2nd Place Alan Campbell Chowan Herald was beautiful photography that is well- CHEROKEE ONE FEATHER Photos truly depict lots of snow fell in the BERTIE LEDGER-ADVANCE Jonathan Tobias integrated into the design. Great stuff! Providing Enterprise Scott Brings Plenty Football, Reading & Magic region. Jim Green Chowan Herald-Jonathan Tobias “ Photos from the Cherokee Performing All the Way Back Systems for over Columns Arts Program production of “Into the PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTS 3rd Place Erudite and solid, Tobias is a cut above SPORTS ENTERPRISE Woods” 1st Place CROSSROADS CHRONICLE 3rd Place the reductive, party-line toeing stereotype GRAHAM STAR Don Richeson REPORTING NORTH STATE JOURNAL of the small town columnist. I very much 40 YEARS 1st Place 2nd Place Kevin Hensley Cashiers crash caps chase Brett Friedlander enjoyed his work. NORTH STATE JOURNAL CHEROKEE ONE FEATHER Celebrate Good Times Coverage of a crash and arrested suspect. Smith aims to raise High Point’s Shawn Krest Scott Brings Plenty Great combo of action shot coupled 3rd Place basketball profile with one that captures the emotional The mystery mat on college football Photos from the 44th Annual Eastern PROFILE FEATURE SPRING HOPE ENTERPRISE celebration. sidelines R Enterprise Band Cherokee Pow Wow 1st Place USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS Ken Ripley Advertising CROSSROADS CHRONICLE Law; Republicans; Reading 1st Place 2nd Place 2nd Place Dan Brown While the first entry here appears to be an NORTH STATE JOURNAL and Production TARBORO WEEKLY NORTH STATE JOURNAL 3rd Place Jim Barton -- A walking history lesson unsigned editorial, Ken Ripley presents as Staff Alan Campbell Cory Lavalette NORTH STATE JOURNAL Engaging story about an engaging a rational and civil voice. NSJ April 2019 Joyner’s Redemption May 14 not a date to remember for R Enterprise Lauren Rose, Shawn Krest man. Well-written, great details and Photos are dynamic and well-placed. Nice job capturing their expressions. Not Bruins NC’s boys of summer are back on the descriptions. Clearly the class of this SPECIAL SECTION Editorial and an easy thing to do with football! category. diamond 1st Place Automated Toning AVERY JOURNAL TIMES 3rd Place 3rd Place 2nd Place Avery Journal-Times Staff NORTH STATE JOURNAL 630 MunicipalDl rive, Suite420, TARBORO WEEKLY NORTH STATE JOURNAL R Enterprise Avery Journal-Times 2018 Salute to Shawn Krest Nazareth, PA 18064 Alan Campbell Shawn Krest Heroes Anatomy of a game-winning play Digital Asset A Tough Game William Peace coach a member of (610) 746-7700 Really nice action shots Excellent layout, but maybe add more Management softball royalty color next time, instead of black and www.newspapersystems.com Nice lead-in to a great story, well-written. white for all of the heroes.

8 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 9

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 8-9 2/5/20 1:55 PM DIVISION B Community newspapers 3,500-10,000 circulation 2019 / Editorial Excellence

APPEARANCE AND 2nd Place BUSINESS WRITING COMMUNITY COVERAGE 2nd Place ELECTION/POLITICAL GENERAL NEWS LEDE DESIGN STATE PORT PILOT 1st Place 1st Place STATE PORT PILOT REPORTING REPORTING 1st Place 1st Place Terry Pope BLADEN JOURNAL CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD Terry Pope 1st Place 1st Place CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD It’s good to see when things turn out Kimberlee Shaw, Alan Wooten Staff Self-infliccting wound; Dog and pony BLADEN JOURNAL STATE PORT PILOT Randall Rigsbee Staff 20/20 Phinite Chatham News + Record Community shows; Bad behavior Emily M. Williams Staff Bulletproof; Lorie; Ticks ledes Appearance & Design entry - Good human interest story. Well done! Engaging lede that builds into an Coverage Holding government officials accountable Helping the veterans Florence aftermath: Southport Chatham News + Record interesting story about a burgeoning for their actions is the only way the public Well written story that could have been infrastructure takes a hit 2nd Place industry in a remote outpost. Clear and will every know what’s going on, both “Pretty! Overall design is attractive & a 3rd Place 2nd Place just a run-of-the-mill political public Great package of a devastating SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE concise writing by Allen. Excellent work. locally and at the statehouse. The writer is good interface for readers. Unlike pubs COASTLAND TIMES WATAUGA DEMOCRAT appearance brief. Including the voices Dave Russell well-versed in both local and state politics storm and its aftermath. where little is going right, there is so much Philip S. Ruckle Jr. Staff of those affected by the issue at hand — Lede Submissions for Dave Russell 2nd Place and does an admirable job of being a right that it’s easy to pick a few things Police Dogs on Duty Community Coverage assistance for veterans — gave this story areas for attention: BUTNER-CREEDMOOR NEWS great community watchdog. Editorials far more impact than simply quoting the 2nd Place Good quotes and explaining of the dogs’ 3rd Place Shawn Taylor were concise and well-written. Great job! politicians and bureaucrats. WATAUGA DEMOCRAT abilities. 3rd Place SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE 2nd Place Hemp processor opens plant in Thomas Sherrill, Kayla Lasure NEWS-RECORD & SENTINEL Quintin Ellison COASTLAND TIMES Oxford 3rd Place 2nd Place The Andrew Mason shooting death BEAT NEWS REPORTING Paul Moon Lede Submissions for Quintin Ellison Staff Effective piece about a burgeoning industry BLADEN JOURNAL CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD Great package with lots of explanation 1st Place News-Record & Sentinel community and follow-up. The Coastland Times, Appearance that is taking the place of tobacco farming. Alan Wooten Casey Mann WATAUGA DEMOCRAT coverage and Design Serves well in showing how hemp is Hogs, election fraud, lake safety Chatham GOP entangled with federal Kayla Lasure The election fraud editorial was excellent. 3rd Place “Very nice looking overall! Design keeping agriculture alive in the community. indictment LIGHTER COLUMNS Agencies pilot new efforts to reduce Got a little lost on the hogs, but I’m STATE PORT PILOT elements are used consistently to facilitate EDITORIAL PAGE Solid, clear courts story with a political 1st Place recidivism, drug-related offenses confident readers understood exactly. the reading experience for a clean, 3rd Place 1st Place backdrop. Readers knew exactly what Lee Hinnant SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE Great effective and creative writing. 5 The lake safety edit was a great reminder professional, yet friendly look. SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE COURIER-TIMES the news was. Good work going outside Four rescued after boat capsizes Renea Winchester stars for originality. Your work completely of what can happen when government Tanner Hall Staff the courtroom for background and Excellent story that puts the reader sets the bar for what a Beat News series safety measures are cut. The newspaper Lighter columns from Renea perspective. in the center of the action. 3rd Place is all about. Great coverage of a topic Promised haven now an investor Best Editorial Page serves as a great community watchdog. It’s Winchester BLADEN JOURNAL that needs more attention than ever. Way trap? Good writing and good stories. Articles journalists should be proud of the work I know a lot of people would enjoy this 3rd Place Kimberlee Shaw, Alan Wooten to go!!! Nice work investigating how residents of a were clear to reader. Local appeal was they do. HEADLINE WRITING column, from goat protector to a mama September housing development were duped. Aided fantastic. Need to improve on layout and STATE PORT PILOT 1st Place kitty security cat. Kind of reminds me of On the verge of being top-notch. Little 2nd Place by great quotes from some of the people variety of editorials. EDUCATION REPORTING Lee Hinnant SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE Hank the Cow Dog, where you want to inconsistencies add up to pull it out of the BLADEN JOURNAL affected by this. Former governors unite to fight two Jim Buchanan and Quintin Ellison read the next chapter before it’s published. 2nd Place 1st Place Well done! top spot. Chrysta Carroll, Alan Wooten amendments on ballot Headline Writing Submissions - STATE PORT PILOT WATAUGA DEMOCRAT Hurricane Florence CITY, COUNTY This story put the showdown between rattlesnakes, eggs and sports betting Staff Kayla Lasure the executive and legislative branches of 2nd Place ARTS AND Good effective writing with clear and GOVERNMENT Editorial Page Community questions Valle Crucis separation of powers in broad perspective. COURIER-TIMES ENTERTAINMENT concise pieces tied together in a “Beat” REPORTING 2nd Place Great writing and great layouts. School property site Politics isn’t, or at least shouldn’t be, about Johnny Whitfield style. Though not that original, a good, 1st Place STATE PORT PILOT REPORTING Editorials had good, local appeal, but Great series covering all angles of this winning today’s argument. Best Light columns solid community interest topic. Getting STATE PORT PILOT important community issue. Well Terry Pope 1st Place could use some more clarity in titles and Writers picks some interesting subjects your boots on the grounds for those photos Renee Spencer researched, well sourced from a variety SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE headlines. Could also use more of a EMAIL NEWSLETTER Hen rules don’t fly; It’s good to see for his column. I could relate to the was just an added bonus. Good overall of perspectives including community Jim Buchanan Southport Police: Audit reveals key variety of editorials for a more complete 1st Place when things turn our 20/20; Welding Department of Licensing visit. And the coverage. residents and business people as well as ‘Back of Beyond’ examines key player concerns section. program sparks interest writer painted a great image of the old- superintendent and board members. CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD in Smokies lore, preservation Important watchdog piece that sheds light time child safety seat 3rd Place Good continuity between parts of series Alexis Allston, Bill Horner III on the local police department audit. Well 3rd Place 3rd Place WATAUGA DEMOCRAT to catch readers up without too much chatham brew 2nd Place written and thoroughly researched. Excellent WAKE WEEKLY 3rd Place SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE Kayla Lasure reporting. re-hash. Good roundup of the day’s news QUEEN CITY NERVE Staff WATAUGA DEMOCRAT Jim Buchanan App State faculty demand pay raises 2nd Place 2nd Place FEATURE WRITING Pat Moran Wake Weekly Editorial Pages Anna Oakes and Steve Behr Lighter columns from Jim Buchanan Nice find. Although not too original, ALAMANCE NEWS QUEEN CITY NERVE 1st Place Ana Lucia Divins Bridges Cultures good effective writing style and continued Great layouts of Editorial Sections. Also, Brenna Swanston SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE Headline Writing I like how Jim gets to the point fast and Tomas Murawski great variety of stories featured. However, includes some interesting insight. I, too, Through Music “beat” coverage with a desirable outcome Then and Now: Segregation Still Quintin Ellison ICE agrees to county’s terms for jail these sections lack local appeal, clarity and always wondered how you could broom with solid community interest. I believe Pervades in CMS Duck, duck, goose INVESTIGATIVE your titles/headlines could use some work, expenses effective writing. Adding an in-house dirt and make it not look dirty. 3rd Place Excellent enterprise series about segregation I didn’t think a story of a duck hanging however. Nice work localizing a national topic columnist to this section could make a big, REPORTING QUEEN CITY NERVE and dispute. Clear writing with smooth positive impact. in local district. Well researched, very out with geese would be this interesting. 1st Place MAGAZINE OR NICHE Rebecca Hourselt transitions. The infographic is an added well written. Sources come from a variety I especially enjoyed the speculation on the SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE BREAKING NEWS of perspectives - academics, students, PUBLICATION Underground Kings bonus. relationship. Tanner Hall COVERAGE EDITORIALS administrators - great coverage of 1st Place 1st Place Investigation into hazard mapping 1st Place implications and repercussions of issue. 2nd Place WATAUGA DEMOCRAT BEAT FEATURE 3rd Place COURIER-TIMES and landslides BLADEN JOURNAL WATAUGA DEMOCRAT STATE PORT PILOT Staff REPORTING Johnny Whitfield 3rd Place Emily M. Williams, Alan Wooten Anna Oakes Morgan Harper All About Weddings 1st Place Best Editorials WATAUGA DEMOCRAT 2nd Place Hurricane Dorian Over-capacity crowd opines on short- Organ donation creates unique bond Lots of pretty pictures and features. Wake Weekly Best of the category, clear winner. Strong Kayla Lasure ALAMANCE NEWS Particularly like the “Their story” page term rentals, amortization I thought you did well building up to the Shawn Taylor commentary on watchdog journalism High school offers dual enrollment for Kristy Bailey & Tom Boney, Jr. at the end of each feature. Seems to be 2nd Place The lede illustrates how important this bond, donation. Slain friends remember for -- newspapers’ bread and butter now. homeschool students Did councilman get special treatment packed with wedding planning info and NEWS-RECORD & SENTINEL topic is to the community. Anna follows Ensuring local governments remain youthfulness Excellent story providing parents and when city cleared trees off his lot ideas for prospective brides (I assumed the Paul Moon up with workmanlike writing to round transparent is essential, and there’s no 3rd Place Excellent reporting Good job! others with useful information about this intended audience). Seems well-thought Marshall flooding out an excellent piece. other entity besides newspapers that can MARTIN COUNTY ENTERPRISE & educational option for their children. out to thoroughly cover all things related do the job. Well-written, concise and WEEKLY HERALD 3rd Place Explains process and advantages of dual to weddings. Very well done. compelling writing. Well done! Sarah Hodges Stalls WAKE WEEKLY enrollment. Good sourcing from a variety The Guardian Shawn Taylor of perspectives including parents, counselor Town says public emails would cost and students. Beacham seems like an interesting interview. Good job getting that across. $70K

10 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 11

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 10-11 2/5/20 1:55 PM DIVISION B Community newspapers 3,500-10,000 circulation 2019 / Editorial Excellence

2nd Place NEWS FEATURE WRITING PHOTOGRAPHY, PHOTOGRAPHY, SPOT 3rd Place 3rd Place 2nd Place USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA WATAUGA DEMOCRAT 1st Place GENERAL NEWS 1st Place WATAUGA DEMOCRAT Bladen Journal STATE PORT PILOT 1st Place Staff CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD 1st Place SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE Kayla Lasure Alan Wooten Michael Paul COASTLAND TIMES All About Women Zachary Horner SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE Quintin Ellison High Country Multi-faith Clergy On Tobacco Road First season memorable for the Staff I like this magazine. It’s design is attractive. Not quite a JUUL: Local orgs tackling Staff Suspect corralled after foot chase launches new campaign Seahorses The Coastland Times, Use of Social It’s a good read and have has lots of things spread of youth vaping NCDOT tackles, fixes Sylva sinkhole Well done! These photos are great and This story wraps up all the issues on the SPORTS COVERAGE Beautifully done feature. Very well written Media, Facebook for it’s intended audience. The feature on Crisp, Clean and lots of contrast. Eye show the event’s intensity. multi-faith group’s mind, but it takes a half- 1st Place and organized. A fun read! “Each post has shares and engagement, Lonon is rather hard to read because of the 2nd Place catching photo depicts the story it tells dozen paragraphs before this story tells what is WATAUGA DEMOCRAT well done. “ heavy background on the story. new, what is planned/being done right now. State Port Pilot well. 2nd Place Steve Behr 3rd Place Michael Paul COASTLAND TIMES CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD VIDEO 3rd Place Sports Coverage Lakes family now faces an uncertain 2nd Place Hannah Caton SERIOUS COLUMNS Casey Mann 1st Place STATE PORT PILOT Steve Behr puts out an awesome sports future Courier-Times Christmas Mouse Fire 1st Place section that I’m sure his readers love. Nice Disc golf: more than a sport, it’s a STATE PORT PILOT Staff Johnny Whitfield Great fire photo! COASTLAND TIMES going, Steve! culture Michael Paul Coast Magazine Spring 2019 3rd Place Best Photography, General News Gregory Clark Super sports feature on a topic that isn’t a Southport Naturalization Ceremony Nice looking publication. Lots of 3rd Place Serious Columns, Gregory Clark 2nd Place bouncing ball! Excellently written. 2019 information provided. I assume the goal is Chatham News & Record Zachary Horner 3rd Place SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE STATE PORT PILOT Great images. Glad there was sound. to give readers “go and do” ideas. Easy to Sports News Reporting ready, design was easy to navigate. Would ‘Your outlook on life changes’ Chatham News & Record Dave Russell 2nd Place Staff have liked to see more photos, but the ones Randall Rigsbee Truck slides into Savannah Creek CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD Sports Coverage 1st Place 2nd Place used were well done and grabbed the eye. PHOTO PAGE OR ESSAY Family and friends gather Intense photo. Bill Horner III Beautiful pages, well-rounded coverage WATAUGA DEMOCRAT STATE PORT PILOT Serious columns by Bill Horner III and great writing and editing. Really, this Steve Behr 1st Place Michael Paul should be tied for first place with Steve’s App State pulls away from North MULTIMEDIA PROJECT COASTLAND TIMES PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTS PROFILE FEATURE Time lapse of turf being installed at paper. Great jobs! Texas to win WBI 1st Place Danielle Puleo 1st Place 1st Place 3rd Place South Brunswick CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD MARTIN COUNTY ENTERPRISE & STATE PORT PILOT MARTIN COUNTY ENTERPRISE & Lots of trips to the football field. Could ESA Easterns: The Ride to the Finals 3rd Place David Bradley WEEKLY HERALD Renee Spencer WEEKLY HERALD 2nd Place have used some sound, if only the school’s Your photos made me feel that I was there SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE A Well-Polished Craft Jim Green Coring follows in father’s footsteps Deborah Griffin COASTLAND TIMES fight song. that day. beautiful! Carey Phillips BGC baseball claws back Counting my blessings; Learning to Daryl Law Sports coverage from Nov. 1-8 2nd Place Capturing a dramatic moment with 2nd Place Let go; Wreakreaction on Creeper Hill Nighthawks Hunting for Tournament 2nd Place Carey Phillips is a machine! Beautiful STATE PORT PILOT BLADEN JOURNAL instant camera click. Spectacular! QUEEN CITY NERVE Title sections and awesome local coverage. 3rd Place Michael Paul Kimberlee Shaw, Emily M. Williams Patrick O’Boyle SPECIAL SECTION Great job! Texas teen triumphs again Planter’s Day 2nd Place A Prayer for the Preacher 1st Place WATAUGA DEMOCRAT Good photos laid out well. STATE PORT PILOT STATE PORT PILOT Steve Behr Michael Paul SPORTS ENTERPRISE Pulling double duty: Laura Barry hired 3rd Place 3rd Place Staff REPORTING STATE PORT PILOT 3rd Place McKenney dunks QUEEN CITY NERVE N.C. Fourth of July Festival to coach WHS boys’ basketball team 1st Place Michael Paul STATE PORT PILOT A classic instant captured! Bending the Jeff Hahne WOW! Great product. Full of ads and STATE PORT PILOT McCracken is back on the baseball Morgan Harper rim with his eyes closed for two points. To the Moon and Back information for the festival. Best overall by USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS Worth the effort for this photographer! Fred Ammann field Parade through town a long shot! 1st Place The Lions Roar PHOTOGRAPHY, FEATURE RELIGION & FAITH STATE PORT PILOT 3rd Place 2nd Place Very detailed look back in time. Enjoyed 1st Place Staff NEWS ENTERPRISE Chatham News & Record REPORTING COASTLAND TIMES looking at old photos and reading a great STATE PORT PILOT 1st Place Use of Photographs REPORTING David Bradley Staff piece. Morgan Harper STATE PORT PILOT Great abundance of photos featuring local 1st Place Under pressure at second base! Outlook: 24 Hours on the Outer Banks faces and very well laid out in feature Opening day Renee Spencer CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD capturing a moment of player angst Creative idea and layout. great content 2nd Place sections. More faces means more readers! Love the way this image captures the spirit Zachary Horner emotes empathy, sympathy. From world stage to the Moose Lodge: and ad support. SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE of the team and the varying faces of the Exploring teen mental health in Presiding Bishop visits St. Philips Quintin Ellison and Carey Phillips 2nd Place Chatham County young children are eye-catching. GREAT Excellent job placing this visit in context, Safety measures increased after WORK! PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTS 3rd Place WINSTON-SALEM CHRONICLE Excellent work to bring to light a prevalent telling readers about this church leader’s COASTLAND TIMES spectators harass soccer official FEATURE appearance at high profile celebrations Alphonso Abbott Jr. and Gregg Penn but not-discussed problem in society. 1st Place Staff Great story about an national issue and Opposing sides 2nd Place and journey to the moose lodge. Good all bases were covered. MARTIN COUNTY ENTERPRISE & STATE PORT PILOT balance of humor and sober ideas and a 2019 Disaster Preparedness Guide Interesting collage of powerful photos. 2nd Place Morgan Harper Good “need to know” section Outstanding use of space to show WEEKLY HERALD strong photo package to boot. Bravo! 3rd Place CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD Let’s go surfing now important images. Bill Horner III Deborah Griffin WATAUGA DEMOCRAT 2nd Place SPORTS COLUMNS Chatham County’s legacy of lynching Christmas at Fort Branch Thomas Sherrill 2nd Place CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD 1st Place 3rd Place - and an effort to remember its victims Great photos capturing the joy the Dotting the ‘i’s’ and crossing the ‘t’s’: season. Great work, great lighting, great State Port Pilot Zachary Horner UP & COMING WEEKLY SYLVA HERALD AND RURALITE Gutsy news coverage of a painful era in Sun Belt title game brings challenges, composition. Michael Paul Hindu temple headed for banks of Earl Vaughan Jr. Sherry Tilley the South. High respect for the newspaper changes After more than 50 years, my fling Use of photographs entries for taking this on. Obviously, you guys are Up for the challenge Deep River 3rd Place This report answers questions for those who with football remains vivid Strong use of photos to convey story of used to taking on tough issues! endangered species. Captivating sports Coastland Times 3rd Place may be startled to find a Hindu temple rising Great storyteller and good stories. SPORTS FEATURE images draw readers to content 3rd Place Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy State Port Pilot in North Carolina and gives the temple’s WRITING supporters a chance to explain their faith and 1st Place State Port Pilot A Beautiful Day in Ocracoke Michael Paul 2nd Place what a temple means to them. A stronger CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD Renee Spencer LOVE THIS so much, the happiness Go jump in the lake WATAUGA DEMOCRAT emphasis on context is needed. The oldest Bill Horner III Animals, shelters also hit by storm gleams from their eyes. Great work. Steve Behr Hindu temples in the U.S. are surprisingly The legend who forgot he was great Good job localizing a topic that would old, which would be a useful fact. Win over UNC mirrors App win over be of great interest to local residents. Well Michigan This is such a nice sports feature. I’m written and edited. guessing 110 percent of readers sopped up every word. Excellent work!

12 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 13

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of Western North Carolina A sampling of services… Accounts PROUD OF OUR TEAM! Share (Savings) Accounts, Checking Accounts, CashPoints® Global Accounts, Watauga Democrat Avery Journal Times FIRST PLACE FIRST PLACE Money Market Share Accounts, IRAs & HSAs, Share Term Certificates, Youth Accounts Niche Publication – Staff Arts & Entertainment Reporting – Carl Blankenship Retail Ad – Meleah Bryan, Mark Mitchell Education Reporting – Carl Blankenship Federally insured by NCUA Use of Color – Meleah Bryan, Charlie Price Headline Writing – Carl Blankenship Beat News Reporting – Kayla Lasure Special Section – Staff Loan Products Education Reporting – Kayla Lasure SECOND PLACE Magazine/Niche Publication – Staff Special Section – Staff Mortgages – (Fixed & Adjustable Rates), Vehicle Loans – (New & Used), Sports Coverage – Steve Behr THIRD PLACE ® Sports News Reporting – Steve Behr News Feature Writing – Carl Blankenship Visa Credit Card, Personal Loans SECOND PLACE Religion & Faith Reporting – Jamie Shell Niche Publication – Staff Sports Feature Writing – Jamie Shell Community Coverage – Staff Financial Advisory Services General News Reporting – Thomas Sherrill, Kayla Lasure Tax Preparation, Insurance, Investments, Retirement Planning, Magazine/Niche Publication – Staff Ashe Post & Times Yadkin Ripple Sports Columns – Steve Behr FIRST PLACE FIRST PLACE Education Planning, Trust Services, Financial Counseling THIRD PLACE Food Ad – Teresa Roark-Laws Feature Writing – Kitsey Burns Harrison Niche Publication – All About Women Staff Home Furnishings & Appliances Ad – Ron Brown SECOND PLACE Retail Ad/Niche – Meleah Bryan, Charlie Price SECOND PLACE Medical Ad – Holly Lamm, Katelyn Goins Convenience Service Ad/Niche – Meleah Bryan, Mark Mitchell Newspaper Promotion – Teresa Roark-Laws THIRD PLACE Beat News Reporting – Kayla Lasure THIRD PLACE Lighter Columns – Kitsey Burns Harrison 24/7 Member Services via phone, Over 260 Branch Locations, nearly City Government Reporting – Anna Oakes Special Section – Staff 1,100 No-Surcharge CashPoints® ATMs, Online Member & Education Reporting – Kayla Lasure Use of Color – Teresa Roark-Laws Headline Writing – Anna Oakes, Steve Behr Breaking News Coverage – Ian Taylor Blowing Rocket Mobile Access, Online BillPay Religion & Faith Reporting – Kayla Lasure FIRST PLACE Sports Enterprise Reporting – Thomas Sherrill Apparel, Jewelry & Accessories Ad – Meleah Bryan, Nathan Godwin Sports News Reporting – Steve Behr The Tribune (Elkin) Special Section – Staff FIRST PLACE The Stokes News Restaurant/Entertainment Ad – Holly Lamm, Marjorie Morrison Visit www.ncpafcu.org for a complete listing of FIRST PLACE Health Ad Campaign – Dawn Bagale, Holly Lamm, Amanda Cooke Mount Airy News branch locations or call 24/7 Member Services Community Service Page – Bob Ward, Marjorie Morrison Serious Columns – Bill Colvard FIRST PLACE Institutional Ad – Bob Ward, Ben Haskins Real Estate Ad – Sherry Stanley, Marjorie Morrison Home Furnishings & Appliances Ad – Samantha Turner, Ben Haskins via phone at 1-888-732-8562 for more information. Newspaper Promotion – Rebecca Portis

ASHE POST & TIMES THE AVERY JOURNAL-TIMES THE BLOWING ROCKET THE MOUNT AIRY NEWS THE MOUNTAIN TIMES THE PILOT West Jefferson Newland Blowing Rock Mount Airy Boone Pilot Mountain THE STOKES NEWS THE TRIBUNE WATAUGA DEMOCRAT THE YADKIN RIPPLE King Elkin Boone Yadkinville PZBGXTN

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

14 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 15

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 14-15 2/5/20 1:55 PM DIVISION C Community newspapers over 10,000 circulation 2019 / Editorial Excellence

APPEARANCE AND 3rd Place 3rd Place 2nd Place 2nd Place 2nd Place ILLUSTRATION/PHOTO 3rd Place DESIGN Smoky Mountain News SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS NEWS REPORTER MOUNTAIN XPRESS Mountaineer ILLUSTRATION/PRINT OR NEWS REPORTER 1st Place Jessi Stone Jessi Stone Staff Virginia Daffron VICKI HYATT INTERACTIVE GRAPHICS Margaret High CARTERET COUNTY NEWS- New Generation Needed to Preserve Future of the Fairways November 9, 23, 30, 2018 Racial achievement gap reporting Small miracle 1st Place Three ledes TIMES North Shore Cemeteries “Good layout Kudos for an outstanding job on a Good job building up to why they didn’t OUTER BANKS MILEPOST Liked the Thumbs up and Thumbs down Staff CITY, COUNTY complex problem. This combines great know she was pregnant. Stephen Templeton LIGHTER COLUMNS section. Good editorial opinion selection“ research with equally great reporting. Carteret County News-Times BEAT NEWS REPORTING GOVERNMENT Illustration - Outer Banks Milepost - 1st Place 1st Place REPORTING 3rd Place Stephen Templeton SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS 3rd Place 3rd Place PILOT 2nd Place MOUNTAINEER 1st Place “Really awesome concepts laid out Susanna Shetley TRANSYLVANIA TIMES STANLY NEWS & PRESS FRANKLIN PRESS Becky Johnson SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS Deborah Salomon graphically, such as the waves crashing A bucket list full of dreams John Lanier Chris Miller Emily Kepley Moss No place for squatters Cory Vaillancourt Like Father, Like Son around a person for the health care story.” Transylvania Times Editorial Pages At Central Elementary, ties are more Good twist on the adoption story. Franklin Press - Appearance and Design Rink Stink 2nd Place – July 2019 than a fashion statement 2nd Place Great example of keeping an eye on where 2nd Place MOUNTAINEER “Best engagement of readers through Excellent lead. Great play on words. This 3rd Place CARTERET COUNTY NEWS- taxppayers’ money is going! GENERAL NEWS 27587 MAGAZINE Sarah Jane Hatfield Letters to the Editor. Layout has room displays exceptional reporting with a OUTER BANKS MILEPOST TIMES REPORTING Philip M. Read Jr. for improvement. Would like to see more clever style. Georgia to Maine with Sara Staff Elise Clouser 2nd Place local columnist“ 1st Place Shelf Life Outer Banks Milepost: Issue 8.3 (Fall Florence housing issues SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS ELECTION/POLITICAL MOUNTAINEER Good magazine cover. 3rd Place 2019) Jessi Stone EDITORIALS Kyle Perrotti MOORESVILLE CITIZEN REPORTING 3rd Place 3rd Place Complex child welfare cases costing 1st Place Racism on the rise Elizabeth Durocher 1st Place OUTER BANKS MILEPOST ARTS AND ROCKINGHAMNOW counties MOUNTAINEER Great coverage of a sensitive issue. Well Paint, Profanity and Springtimes Past SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS written and reporter. Stuart Parks II ENTERTAINMENT Susie C. Spear Vicki Hyatt Cory Vaillancourt Illustration - Outer Banks Milepost Susie C. Spear Medicaid expansion 3rd Place Editorials - Vicki Hyatt MAGAZINE OR NICHE REPORTING Constituents of color 2nd Place (Issue 8.2) MOUNTAINEER The chief task of the editorial writer 1st Place ROANOKE-CHOWAN NEWS- PUBLICATION BREAKING NEWS Becky Johnson isn’t to write an editorial — that way Interesting idea, hard to judge. SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS 2nd Place HERALD 1st Place Holly Kays COVERAGE Trashcan crackdown lies pompous and pretentious — but to PILOT say something. That is, something worth MOUNTAIN XPRESS Cal Bryant INVESTIGATIVE The story behind the man: First-ever 1st Place Thorough story on a subject I’ve never David Woronoff Jim Dodson Andie read about before. Well-written. Great reading, something worthy of thought. Daniel Walton Navigating life with Autism Horace Kephart biography released CARTERET COUNTY NEWS- REPORTING Rose Jim Moriarty job! Vicki Hyatt accomplishes this beautifully. 2020 election campaigns already What a great read. This story really puts 1st Place Well-written and researched article, with TIMES PineStraw Magazine, The Art & Soul She doesn’t speak down to the reader. stirring in WNC the reader in the shoes of someone with YES! WEEKLY multiples sources, put this story head and Staff Instead, she engages the reader in a warm this condition. Excellent work! of the Sandhills COMMUNITY COVERAGE Ian McDowell shoulders above others in the category. Hurricane Dorian hits Carteret conversation. Well done. Excellent publication. Stories are well Such an interesting read! 1st Place 3rd Place Coverage of the dead of Marcus Deon County 3rd Place written, interesting and easy to read. MOUNTAIN XPRESS SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS Smith Important information delivered in a 2nd Place ROCKINGHAMNOW Photos are good as is the design, though 2nd Place Staff Cory Vaillancourt Wow. Really compelling story, well timely fashion. MOORESVILLE CITIZEN Joe Dexter I would like to see a little more use of OUTER BANKS MILEPOST Mountain Xpress 2019 community Hometown hate researched and strongly written. The best white on pages where stories are presented. John Deem Susie C. Spear rainfall Leo Gibson coverage in a very competitive category. Overall, it’s a quality publication that is 2nd Place Paper Ballots, Growing Smart and This takes “weather story” to a whole other Solid coverage of the arts, nonprofits and EMAIL NEWSLETTER well supported by advertisers and likely Arts & Entertainment - Outer Banks ROCKINGHAMNOW Lost in Liberty level. Very well reported and written. issues of importance to the area such as 2nd Place well-read by it’s intended audience. Good Milepost - Leo Gibson Joe Dexter, Susie C. Spear 1st Place Good local angle on what has become a the environment. Strong writing, Logically — artfully — composed SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS Job. Captivating writing style on an offbeat Dexter-Spear KFC editorials that make a point in a PILOT common occurrence in many parts of the “Where the Wild Things Rock” was a John Nagy country. Holly Kays Multiple angles to the story as well as relatively short space. Hews to the old 2nd Place hoot to read. “Good Vibrations” is a visuals. Colorful witness quotes a plus. 2nd Place axiom that newspaper writers should get The Pilot’s Briefing Law enforcement ranger charged NEWS REPORTER keeper tribute to a longtime musical act. SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS in, say something, and get out. Nice newsletter. The introductory note at HEADLINE WRITING with drug possession Great job! staff Staff 3rd Place the top is inviting. 1st Place Well-documented story. Kudos for Community Coverage sticking with it and following up. A very 954 Fall-Winter 2018 (Volume VI, NEWS REPORTER 3rd Place 27587 MAGAZINE 3rd Place Historic features give a real sense of time 2nd Place competitive category. Issue II) Jefferson Weaver, Justin Smith PILOT Bob Bogert, Philip M. Read SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS and place. Strong reporting and writing. Impressive publication. Features are The de adly shooting of Highway John Nagy PILOT Garret K. Woodward Good arts coverage. 27587 Magazine Headlines 3rd Place plentiful and design is attractive. Photos Patrolman Kevin Conner Oct. 17, Pinelake Silence Isn’t Who We Are Mackenzie Francisco Right from the source: Smoky The Sway: Making Fetch Happen SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS work is high quality are factored into 2018 “An emphasis on the transparency, 2nd Place how to present the story. Stories are well Mountain Folk Festival celebrates 50 3rd Place Good design. I like the way its broken Holly Kays Would like to have seen the print coverage and consequently the quality, of local ROANOKE-CHOWAN NEWS- written, interesting and easy reads. years ENQUIRER-JOURNAL down into topics. Indian Health Service examines issues as well. government provides a service to readers Advertiser support is impressive. Overall, Nice mix of narrative and first-person Staff of the Pinelake Pilot.“ HERALD at Unity Healing Center Staff very well done. accounts from the performers. Overall, an BUSINESS WRITING The Enquirer-Journal Community 3rd Place Bravo for taking on a difficult, appealing package. Coverage EDUCATION REPORTING PILOT Tall Glass Who let the humans in Tiny controversial subject. Well-told, objective 1st Place Tunes 3rd Place 1st Place Abbi Overfelt reporting. A very competitive category, so BEAT FEATURE MOUNTAIN XPRESS third place is an accomplishment. NEWS REPORTER Edwin Arnaudin EDITORIAL PAGE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS The Sway: The Rest of The Pines Staff 1st Place Good design. Clean. Lots of information. 3rd Place REPORTING Asheville’s newest breweries see room Cory Vaillancourt Flourish March 2019 1st Place PILOT Acts of Love ROCKINGHAMNOW LEDE for continued industry growth Susie C. Spear 1st Place A strong publication. Well done stories PILOT John Nagy, David Woronoff This is a heart-rending story, sensitively FEATURE WRITING targeting the interest of likely audience Deborah Salomon The Pilot Editorial Page told. It is well-researched, plus it has 1st Place Susie C. Spear headlines Mountaineer 2nd Place backed with good photography and design. Fire In the Belly “Best layout and design great quotes and insights. This transcends Becky Johnson SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS MOUNTAINEER Good use of local columnist journalism to become literature. Ledes Jessi Stone Becky Johnson 2nd Place Good reader engagement with letters to Drake takes Macon airport under its Too many tractors? SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS the editor” Excellent descriptive beginning draws you into 2nd Place wing Cory Vaillancourt this story. You took what could have been a MOUNTAIN XPRESS Haywood’s hidden history mundane subject and made it interesting. Gina Smith Food section ledes

16 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 17

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 16-17 2/5/20 1:55 PM DIVISION C Community newspapers over 10,000 circulation 2019 / Editorial Excellence

MULTIMEDIA PROJECT 3rd Place 2nd Place PHOTOGRAPHY, SPOT 2nd Place 2nd Place 2nd Place USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA 1st Place SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES 1st Place ROANOKE-CHOWAN NEWS- STANLY NEWS & PRESS TRANSYLVANIA TIMES 1st Place NEWS REPORTER Holly Kays Dylan Ray FRANKLIN PRESS HERALD Charles Curcio Jeremiah Reed YES! WEEKLY Justin Smith, Diana Matthews The untold story: Smokies seeks Homecoming Ryan Hanchett Gene Motley Charles Curcio The Long And Winding Road: How 14 Katie Murawski, Natalie Garcia, Lau- Displaced by Florence, church pianist to showcase history of African- Good group of photos. Thank you to Franklin Press - spot news photo - Take a hand Tis the season Pushing Good coverage of local school athletic Seniors Went From Winless Freshmen ren Brady still has a song in her heart Americans this photographer for including the call tractor trailer back events. Missing are features about To State Semifinalists YES! Weekly’s social media Lovely story about a lovely person whose Very nice! number of the pictured plane. Profile individual athletic accomplishments! Great story detailing the journey freshman Good cohesive social media strategy, looks photo in front of flag is excellent.Photo of community rallied around her. Brought 2nd Place 3rd Place However, fishing earned some ink among football players went from doormats to state like fun. whole family is very touching. these sporting pages. Good photos! a tear to my eye. The video added a great PHOTO PAGE OR ESSAY NEWS REPORTER NEWS REPORTER contenders, helping put their program back deal to the story, letting the viewer hear 1st Place Justin Smith Diana Matthews on the map. 2nd Place her sincerity in her own voice. 3rd Place 3rd Place 27587 MAGAZINE Neighbors and friends grieve Please don’t hurt me and other NEWS REPORTER FRANKLIN PRESS FRANKLIN PRESS 3rd Place Bob Karp columns Justin Smith 2nd Place Linda Mathias Andy Scheidler Tails of the Triangle 3rd Place FRANKLIN PRESS Columbus Report and other social WILKES JOURNAL-PATRIOT Franklin Press - General News Photo01 CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES FP Sports Andy Scheidler media Marty McGee What a fun photo. Great job capturing the SPECIAL SECTION A good mix of the usual sports activities— 2nd Place Dylan Ray Longevity links This was a tight category; all the entries are ‘It was a miracle’ expressions of the moment. 1st Place team accomplishments—yet the best stories OUTER BANKS MILEPOST Bracing for Dorian Noteworthy story on a timeless golfer really good. Nice wrap up story with good photos. PILOT reflect inspirational individual and group and his love for the game. His incredible D. Victor Meekins David Woronoff, John Nagy, Staff efforts in unusual activities and events. Video showed the size of the crowd well, PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTS journey includes playing golf in a war 3rd Place but didn’t give a real feel for the event. It “Earliest Eye” Photo Essay - Outer PROFILE FEATURE Nicely presented. 1st Place Best of The Pines 2019 zone. Reminds me of the movie “Big Fish.” MOUNTAINEER would have been nice to hear from some of Banks Milepost - D. Victor Meekins 1st Place Excellent job with organization of lists. Excellent work. WILKES JOURNAL-PATRIOT Staff the audience. WILKES JOURNAL-PATRIOT Nice layout, color and awesome ad support. SPORTS ENTERPRISE Andy G. Moore Use of social media 3rd Place Trey Lambert interception Marty McGee REPORTING SPORTS NEWS 3rd Place A 25% increase in digital subscribers is PILOT Captured “the moment” exactly when it Gifted perspective 2nd Place 1st Place REPORTING NEWS REPORTER incredible! Wish I could give all the entries Ted Fitzgerald should be -- got the ball, the eyes and the Love the first two paragraphs transforming PILOT FRANKLIN PRESS 1st Place in this class first place. Justin Smith, Diana Matthews Future Musicians perspective, composed well and cropped him into a superhero. David Woronoff, John Nagy, Staff Andy Scheidler FRANKLIN PRESS Art in the Aftermath well. Kudos A Guide to the Sandhills Fish kill Andy Scheidler VIDEO Nicely done. I wish we could have heard 2nd Place Another excellent product. Great PHOTOGRAPHY, FEATURE Well-researched and well-written. Coaching controversy 1st Place from more than one artist in the video. 2nd Place MOUNTAINEER information. 1st Place Outstanding job all around. NEWS REPORTER FRANKLIN PRESS Kyle Perrotti OUTER BANKS MILEPOST 2nd Place Justin Smith NEWS ENTERPRISE Tom Pantaleo A survivor’s story 3rd Place Chris Bickford 2nd Place ENQUIRER-JOURNAL Lawmakers return to Raleigh for start REPORTING Soars We don’t often get to really give the victim’s Carteret County News-Times “Van Crush” Photo Feature - Outer PILOT Jeremy Vernon of session 1st Place Great perspective, great moment, great eye side of the story. Most won’t talk about it STAFF Banks Milepost - Chris Bickford Jaymie Baxley Howell changes choice, picks UNC Importance of this story -- what lawmakers MOUNTAINEER for the key moment in the play because of fear or embarrassment. Good Outlook 2019 Great variation, well composed shots, Teen Rallies for Skate Park plan to do -- outweigh some of the video Kyle Perrotti job getting this perspective. Great job. Great reporting and overall wonderful expressions, attention to detail Well-written. Second only because of a 3rd Place quality issues. Strong work. A community cracks with lighting ... kudos 3rd Place excellent section. very strong first-place entry. Good, solid ROCKINGHAMNOW NEWS REPORTER 3rd Place work here. MOUNTAINEER Jim Sands 2nd Place 2nd Place 2nd Place Grant Merritt SPORTS COLUMNS Becky Johnson Jim Sands Reidsville championship ENQUIRER-JOURNAL ROANOKE-CHOWAN NEWS- CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES Soccer and basketball 1st Place 3rd Place Art of the pie Jerry Snow, Jeremy Vernon, Ed Cot- HERALD Cheryl Burke Selected primarily for the girls basketball INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE ENQUIRER-JOURNAL This was a very engaging story. It may tingham Holly Taylor Ann Street preschoolers graduate photo -- great perspective, faces and action, C. Jemal Horton Jeremy Vernon USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS very crisp and plenty of action. well done. have been only the subject matter that kept Sam’s Story Human Trafficking How can you not love this photo? It’s not C. Jemal Horton Column Union County’s most influential 1st Place it from placing higher. OUTER BANKS MILEPOST Solid story and well-researched. Viewers only mom who would be proud ... great Very unique perspective. coaches series can tell a ton of time was invested in this composition, color and expression here PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTS Staff 3rd Place RELIGION & FAITH An interesting series, but the Q-and-A story. SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS FEATURE 2nd Place format doesn’t reflect much “enterprise.” Use of Photographs - Outer Banks REPORTING Not to say there isn’t some value for the Jessi Stone 3rd Place 1st Place CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES Milepost: Issue 8.2 (Summer 2019) 3rd Place 1st Place reader, but it’s pretty formulaic. Best of the group: solid work throughout, Hard Day’s Night PILOT 27587 MAGAZINE J.J. Smith NEWS REPORTER MOUNTAINEER good use of portraits and general news David Sinclair, Ted Fitzgerald, Brandi Bob Karp In this corner Justin Smith Kyle Perrotti SPORTS FEATURE shots, scenics, etc. NEWS FEATURE WRITING Swarms Bark in the Park Local businessmen travel to the White Celebrating the Class of 2019 Fantastic color, focus and depth of field. I A different perspective WRITING 1st Place 3rd Place House for Made in America product What is really the standard grad photo is like the composition of this. Also, you just 1st Place 2nd Place SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS PILOT showcase done incredibly well here -- composition, can’t go wrong with dogs! 2nd Place FRANKLIN PRESS CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES Holly Kays David Sinclair Very clean, detailed, good audio for color, sharpness, a bit of variation in the SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS Andy Scheidler Staff WCU marching band a motivator for Patriots 1979 State Title Was a Dream interviews. three shots. Love it. 2nd Place Cory Vaillancourt Off-road Recovery Carteret County News-Times enrollment Come True PILOT The essence of power is a towel Interesting story about an addict-turned- Good variety of photos both color and All around awesome job! Grabs interest PHOTOGRAPHY, GENERAL Ted Fitzgerald triathlete, his road to redemption and how black-and-white and keeps it. Writer has made a great story SPORTS COVERAGE NEWS U.S. Kids Golf World Championship he’s helping to keep others from falling into out of what could have been fairly routine. 3rd Place 1st Place 1st Place Good smiles and action. Great feel-good the same hole. Andy really digs into who 3rd Place FRANKLIN PRESS MOUNTAINEER FRANKLIN PRESS look to these. Charlie is; a person who has literally found NEWS REPORTER 2nd Place Luke Barber Staff Linda Mathias new life through recovery. Staff SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS Faith - Pastor’s Journey Sports coverage Franklin Press - General News Photo02 3rd Place April 16 and 19, 2019 Cory Vaillancourt PILOT Comprehensive coverage of community Solid use of color and black and white, Cool Shot. The looks on the crowd’s faces is SERIOUS COLUMNS athletes in action, youth and adult. Without Hesitation: Riley Howell David Sinclair good variety of photos priceless. Love this. 1st Place Column, feature stories mix with event Excellent story, very moving and engaging Volleyball Fun all the way through. Good job! NEWS REPORTER outcomes. Good photos. Stories on Good feeling of scale, small to bigger kids. Les High recreational activities mix well! Excellent Disinformation, News and opinion, entry. Not a bad legacy 18 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 19

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 18-19 2/5/20 1:55 PM 2019 SPECIAL AWARDS Media and the Law Awards PLUS Jane Lynch Laughs It Up, p. 2 Best Series Best Daily Article Best Community Article Best Online Article NEWS & OBSERVER WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL THE STATE PORT PILOT NC POLICY WATCH Josh Shaffer Scott Sexton Renee Spencer Melissa Boughton

Mark Binker Public Notice Award

WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL LOCAL VOICE MEDIA R I NThe former G Beatle on O! peace, love, Wesley Young Michael Praats sobriety, turning 79 and drumming for the world’s most famous band Church faces foreclosure Carolina Beach resident asking to rezone her neigh- Photographed April 16 Sunset Marquis threat / It’s closing time bors’ land sits on town committee, others cry foul West Hollywood

Henry Lee Weathers Freedom of Information Award

Non Daily Daily Online 1st Place 1st Place 1st Place NEWS REPORTER FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER BLOWING ROCK NEWS Allen Turner Greg Barnes, Paul Woolverton David Rogers County commissioners keep scanty The Mike Lallier Involuntary recusal records Sexual Molestation Lawsuit leads to change

Public Service Award

Non Daily Daily Online 1st Place 1st Place 1st Place Your source for premium content and trusted revenue solutions, tailored to ALAMANCE NEWS CHARLOTTE OBSERVER CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS Staff Ames Alexander, Gavin Off, Staff Coverage of evolution of consultant’s David Raynor Seeking Conviction recommendations for a Graham Dismissed TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS. downtown plan In important series that clearly had a Wow. Amazing journalism about a subject positive impact with the passage of new legislation strengthening sexual assault laws Graphics explaining problems with proposal relevant to all communities. My paper frequently wonders how prosecutors make their decisions to in the state. A clear winner. I’m astounded surely helped. The letter about the coverage with the depth and complexity of the and election really brought home the problem. charge. Balanced, well-written and illustrated, a real service to the community. reporting. Presentation was outstanding. Kevin Craig | [email protected] | 951.760.1115 Bravo!

20 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 21

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 20-21 2/5/20 1:55 PM CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS All Gannett Journalists and Ad Designers of North Carolina All Gannett Journalists and Ad Designers of North Carolina

Daily News (Jacksonville) MAJOR Newsroom Award Winners Magazine or Niche Publication 2nd Place Staff Fall 2019 My Onslow General Excellence 1st Place StarNews (Wilmington) Division E Sports Columns 3rd Place Chris Miller Chris Miller columns General Excellence 2nd Place Times-News (Hendersonville) Division D General Excellence 3rd Place Asheville Citizen-Times Division E General Excellence for Websites 1st Place StarNews (Wilmington) Division E Daily Dispatch (Lexington) General Excellence for Websites 3rd Place Star (Shelby) Division D Sports Columns 1st Place Mike Duprez Michael keeps tring; Softball; Browns v Bulldogs General Excellence for Websites 3rd Place Asheville Citizen-Times Division E Feature Writing 2nd Place Sharon Myers The art of family Henry Lee Weathers Freedom of Information Award 1st Place Fayettevilee Observer - Greg Barnes, Paul Woolverton The Mike Lallier Sexual Molestation Lawsuit News Enterprise Reporting 2nd Place Ben Coley Hemp, hemp, hooray?; The plant has been villianized Newsroom Award Winners Profi le Feature 2nd Place Ben Coley Singing from the soul Sports Feature Writing 2nd Place Ben Coley A cowboy’s savior Illustration/Photo Illustration/ Citizen-Times (Asheville) Print or interactive graphics 3rd Place Staff Measles outbreak spotlights vaccination rates in schools Election/Political Reporting 1st Place Joel Burgess North Carolina gerrymandering Feature Writing 1st Place Brian Gordon ‘A kind crazy’: Inside the competitive world of guinea pig shows Fayetteville Observer General News Reporting 1st Place Staff Wanda Greene, ex-Buncombe offi cials sentenced in federal corruption probe City, County Government Reporting 2nd Place John Henderson Fayetteville’s Civil War museum controversy News Enterprise Reporting 1st Place Joel Burgess NC liquor privatization: More convenience? Higher prices? Public health problems? Use of Social Media 2nd Place Staff The Fayetteville Observer Facebook account Photography, General News 1st Place Angeli Wright Riley Howell comes home Community Coverage 3rd Place Staff The Fayetteville Observer Serious Columns 1st Place John Boyle Selection of John Boyle’s serious columns News Feature Writing 3rd Place Michael Futch Fayetteville police chief’s 1935 death remains a mystery Special Section 1st Place Staff 2019 High School Football Preview Sports Enterprise Reporting 1st Place David Thompson Late start time for basketball games causing problems Video 1st Place Angeli Wright 10-year-old gymnast Zoe Smith Gaston Gazette Business Writing 2nd Place Mackensy Lunsford Women lead the way as hemp revival sweeps WNC Breaking News Coverage 1st Place Eric Wildstein Child dies at trampoline park Education Reporting 2nd Place Brian Gordon How Buncombe County’s opportunity scholarships are distributed Headline Writing 1st Place Kevin Ellis Headline writing Email newsletter 2nd Place Mackensy Lunsford (In)side Dish Photography, Feature 1st Place Mike Hensdill Harvest Day Multimedia Project 2nd Place Mackensy Lunsford, Angeli Wright Evolution of a dish: Noble Cider’s The Greenhouse Photography, General News 1st Place John Clark Father Forgives Killer Photography, General News 2nd Place Angela Wilhelm Keesha Martinez at Dixon sentencing Beat Feature Reporting 2nd Place Kevin Ellis I want my Ja’ back Photography, Sports 2nd Place Angela Wilhelm Rams win Photography, Sports Feature 2nd Place John Clark A Tough Night Photography, Sports Feature 2nd Place Angeli Wright Madison vs North Buncombe softball Beat News Reporting 3rd Place Eric Wildstein Late veteran honored Sports Enterprise Reporting 2nd Place David Thompson A team of their own: Rise in female wrestling numbers prompting change in the sport Education Reporting 3rd Place Eric Wildstein Elementary schools offering young musicians unique experiences Sports Feature Writing 2nd Place David Thompson ‘Seth Strong’: Mitchell football player remembers life, death of younger brother Photography, Sports 3rd Place John Clark Sand Splash Video 2nd Place Angeli Wright An Asheville dad’s road to recovery Breaking News Coverage 3rd Place Jennifer Bowman, John Boyle, Mackensy Lunsford Tiyquasha Simuel death coverage City, County Government Reporting 3rd Place Joel Burgess Chris Hickman is sentenced North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Community Coverage 3rd Place Staff Asheville Community Coverage Lighter Columns 2nd Place David Donovan Sidebar Email newsletter 3rd Place David Thompson Inside the Huddle News Enterprise Reporting 3rd Place Bill Cresenzo Getting plugged back in: New certifi cate of relief law will help more people get fresh starts General News Reporting 3rd Place Jennifer Bowman, David Thompson Riley Howell shooting coverage Lighter Columns 3rd Place Karen Chávez Columns on a variety of outdoors topics News Feature Writing 3rd Place Sam DeGrave A 3-year-old with leukemia needs a bone marrow transplant. Her race complicates the search Sun Journal (New Bern) Photography, Sports Feature 3rd Place Angela Wilhelm Out at sunset Arts and Entertainment Reporting 2nd Place Charlie Hall Drag queen proud of lifestyle, show performances Photography, General News 2nd Place Gray Whitley PHOTOS: Foam Party! Courier-Tribune (Asheboro) Arts and Entertainment Reporting 3rd Place Charlie Hall Sobriety, singing bring peaceful joy to talented New Bern singer Magazine or Niche Publication 1st Place Staff Thrive: Life in our Town and Beyond, May 2019; June 2019; July 2019 General News Reporting Courier-Tribune 3rd Place Jamie Biggs After 6 years of waiting, murder victim’s mother reacts to arrest of suspect

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2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 22-23 2/5/20 1:55 PM CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS All Gannett Journalists and Ad Designers of North Carolina All Gannett Journalists and Ad Designers of North Carolina

ta hely Times News (Burlington)

pots ntepise epoting st lace ustin eoge tudent eels school scammed him Photography, Sports Feature 1st Place Robert Thomason An average Joe se o hotogaphs st lace ta est use o photos Sports Coverage 1st Place Bob Sutton, Adam Smith, David Kehrli March madness Community Coeage d lace ta Community Coeage Sports News Reporting 2nd Place Adam Smith Tar Heels storm into Sweet 16 pots Featue iting d lace ustin eoge ack in the game Business Writing 3rd Place Jessica Williams Good, sturdy American Magazine or Niche Publication 3rd Place Charity Apple, Linda Bowman Model Business Plan taews ilmington Photography, Feature 3rd Place Robert Thomason Surprise on third

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24 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 25

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 24-25 2/5/20 1:55 PM CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS All Gannett Journalists and Ad Designers of North Carolina All Gannett Journalists and Ad Designers of North Carolina

Fayetteille Osee ta hely

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26 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 27

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 26-27 2/5/20 1:55 PM DIVISION D Daily newspapers under 12,500 circulation 2019 / Editorial Excellence

APPEARANCE AND BEAT FEATURE BUSINESS WRITING 2nd Place 2nd Place 2nd Place ILLUSTRATION/PHOTO LIGHTER COLUMNS DESIGN REPORTING 1st Place DAILY RECORD WILSON TIMES DISPATCH ILLUSTRATION/PRINT OR 1st Place 1st Place 1st Place HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE Staff Drew C. Wilson Sharon Myers INTERACTIVE GRAPHICS HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE MCDOWELL NEWS HICKORY DAILY RECORD Pat Kimbrough The Daily Record How We Teach The art of family 1st Place Jimmy Tomlin STAFF Emily Willis How ‘disruptive’ furniture model took Community coverage is front and center I like the more enterprise-based approach This is a touching story that is sensitively WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS Jimmy Tomlin lighter columns The McDowell News Jan. 1-2, 2019 Remembering the moon landing over — not relegated to the back. as opposed to spot news coverage. Series told. It’s a great feel-good story. Thank Elizabeth Reed The class of the category, Tomlin is both does a great job of examining several you. Good use of photos, especially when you What a great feature bringing local Thoroughly reported and easy to Local teacher skydives with the consistently funny and interesting while 3rd Place important issues relevant to education avoiding self-indulgence and the strange make sure an inside page has at least impact to a national event. Captivating. comprehend. Golden Knights mugshots to catch readers’ eyes. That sports STAR (SHELBY) today and takes a solid local angle on 3rd Place smugness sanctimoniousness that somehow 2nd Place Staff them. Well researched, well sourced. WILSON TIMES seemed to mar a lot of otherwise fine page wrestling package worked very well: 2nd Place 2nd Place dynamic shots that make you look twice. WILSON TIMES Drew C. Wilson entries in this category. Anyway he’s the GASTON GAZETTE Community Coverage WILSON TIMES Drew C. Wilson 3rd Place Down at the dam class of this class and Kevin Ellis Valerie Register 2nd Place Banner year for hemp harvests GASTON GAZETTE This paints a great picture of the joys of I want my Ja’ back EDITORIAL PAGE Pertinent dates in Wilson County 2nd Place WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS Cleverly written and informative abut a Eric Wildstein fishing. It made me want to join these Heartwarming story that shows the after 1st Place Schools’ history MCDOWELL NEWS Elizabeth Reed effects of such a tragedy. Brought to life in new crop for local farmers. Elementary schools offering young folks down at the dam. WILSON TIMES Scott Hollifield Washington Daily News, Sept. 4-5, a humane way by the writer. musicians unique experiences Staff 3rd Place 2019 3rd Place Great enterprise-creative focus piece on GENERAL NEWS Lighter Columns by Scott Hollifield Whirligig fest; Exercise; game DISPATCH The WDN’s strong visual sense is a good 3rd Place TIMES NEWS (BURLINGTON) arts education. Like how the story looks REPORTING While Hollifield occasionally veers a little contender, but lacks - in these issues - the DAILY HERALD Jessica Williams at several different schools and how the 1st Place Staff toward the sentimental, he’s a fine writer. 2nd Place program flows through them. Good kind of strong local photos that complete Richard Holm Good, sturdy American HICKORY DAILY RECORD Measles outbreak spotlights vaccination HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE sourcing - good quote linking sports rates in schools 3rd Place the package. Designers do an excellent Son receives his late father’s long-lost Interesting piece blends human interest Megan Ward hand-eye coordination to playing an Kristen Hart and Kevin Griffin DAILY HERALD job on inside pages, using color and Ford pickup truck with small-business entrepreneurship. Hickory-area UNC-Charlotte students illustrations to demand reader attention. High Point Enterprise Editorial Pages instrument. Well researched. INVESTIGATIVE Carolyn Harmon Great feel good story, great local impact discuss being on, near campus during Lighter columns story. CITY, COUNTY mass shooting REPORTING 3rd Place EDITORIALS ELECTION/POLITICAL 1st Place Not sure these are “lighter” columns; WILSON TIMES GOVERNMENT 1st Place REPORTING Quoting multiple people who experienced at their best they verge toward poetry. BEAT NEWS REPORTING this tragedy won me over. NEWS HERALD Staff REPORTING WILSON TIMES 1st Place I suspect they might read better as a 1st Place Chrissy Murphy Dodging Dorian’s worst; energy drink 1st Place Corey Friedman GOLDSBORO NEWS-ARGUS collection than individually — I like that WILSON TIMES 2nd Place Fight Club Exposed Clean, modular design with big photos WILSON TIMES Animal shelter; Ray Finch; Sunlight Steve Herring Harmon’s not doing the same old thing Olivia Neeley WILSON TIMES It’s not easy to take on the state about such that draw readers in. Opinions page is Brie Handgraaf An excellent blend of background, fact, The re-election and resignation of with these. Rape convict faces murder charge Olivia Neeley a sensitive topic, but relentless reporting inviting, inclusive. Sports - a must where Nuisance abatement observation and opinion. Clear thinking Sen. Louis Pate and determined record-seeking not only Solid reporting and interviewing Ray Finch you are - gets attention it demands. I was hooked from the very beginning. and persuasive writing. Hard to believe a Persistent reporting on a candidate for office revealed the whole story, but also changed MAGAZINE OR NICHE on breaking news and background Good details about this wrongful Overall a reader-friendly design. Good This lede helped pull me in so quickly and solution for the county’s wretched animal who went dark and quickly resigned after how the situation was resolved. PUBLICATION information. Multiple sources add depth. conviction. work. really painted an amazing picture of this shelter wouldn’t be found after citizens read winning. Readers of these stories were not 1st Place story. Fascinating. this powerful account of official neglect. surprised with the candidate retired a week 2nd Place COURIER-TRIBUNE 2nd Place 3rd Place ARTS AND after being sworn in. ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM Staff NEWS-TOPIC (LENOIR) 2nd Place 2nd Place COURIER-TRIBUNE ENTERTAINMENT Lindell John Kay Thrive: Life in our Town and Beyond, Kara Fohner TIMES-NEWS (H) TIMES-NEWS (H) Jamie Biggs REPORTING 2nd Place Official makes home out of state May 2019; June 2019; July 2019 Overdose deaths Andrew Mundhenk Harrison Metzger After 6 years of waiting, murder WILSON TIMES Classic, aggressive deep-dig investigation “Thrive May 7 good“ 1st Place A multifaceted approach to a challenging A Building Dilemma Our View Corey Friedman victim’s mother reacts to arrest of peeled back more layers to the story that TIMES-NEWS (H) problem. The writer weaves the humanity The juxtaposition in the first few First-rate writing on North Carolina’s Farmer-Butterfield suspect were even more alarming, with action Beth de Bona throughout, which set this entry apart 2nd Place paragraphs really pulled me in. Lots of long political and legal dispute over Residency questions are notoriously hard I especially appreciated your first few resulting. Spirit and the imagination from other crime/trial stories. DAILY NEWS (JACKSONVILLE) great information help tell the story and I drawing maps for congressional district. to cover. Nice job digging out lots of paragraphs building up to the murder. The writer does a great job transporting Staff like how the writer outlined the different Nice, as well, to have an editorial about information about the homes owned by the the reader directly to this artist’s studio. 3rd Place LEDE Fall 2019 My Onslow sides of the issue. the long name of Hendersonville written candidate in question. HEADLINE WRITING 1st Place Slick. GASTON GAZETTE with tongue firmly in cheek. 1st Place 2nd Place Eric Wildstein 3rd Place Wilson Times 3rd Place GASTON GAZETTE Jimmy Lewis SUN JOURNAL Late veteran honored ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM 3rd Place 3rd Place WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS Kevin Ellis Homecoming; Showcase; Lady Charlie Hall Some of the best writing in this category. Lindell John Kay ROBESONIAN TIMES NEWS (BURLINGTON) Vail Stewart Rumley Headline writing Warriors Drag queen proud of lifestyle, show City emails shine light on secrets Donnie Douglas Charity Apple, Linda Bowman Shutdown impacts food and nutrition These ledes were snappy and had me performances BREAKING NEWS Great public records request and Editorials Model Business Plan services 2nd Place wanting to continue reading more. Love that this shines a light on an under- fascinating information. I can only One signature of a quality editorial page is Picturesque. COVERAGE Great job localizing the impact of a DAILY COURIER represented community. This story helps imagine the buzz around the newsroom the well-crafted obituary editorial. We find 1st Place national story. shine a light on stereotypes and that’s so that here in the send-off for a local doctor. Ritchie Starnes 2nd Place GASTON GAZETTE while reading over these emails! MULTIMEDIA PROJECT important. Raven is beautiful! Cigarette smoke burns library DAILY ADVANCE 1st Place Eric Wildstein FEATURE WRITING COMMUNITY COVERAGE EDUCATION REPORTING privileges chris day WILSON TIMES Child dies at trampoline park 1st Place 3rd Place 1st Place 1st Place Lede Drew C. Wilson HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE SUN JOURNAL HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE WILSON TIMES 3rd Place Funny ledes make most people smile! Field trip to Farmers School 2nd Place Jimmy Tomlin Charlie Hall Staff Drew C. Wilson ROBESONIAN “This video would have easily won SANFORD HERALD The Baby By the Mailbox 3rd Place Sobriety, singing bring peaceful joy to High Point Enterprise Community Reading, Writing and Enrollment Donnie Douglas the video category: Camera moves are F.T. Norton North Carolina is blessed to have an HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE talented New Bern singer Great job of looking at enrollment trends Local headlines minimized; editing trims it down to size ‘Unspeakable monstrous act’ Coverage April 11 and 21 2019 extraordinary number of great storytellers. in a comprehensive way. Well researched, Jimmy Tomlin and the people in the story are identified The paper gives readers a real sense Everyone in this category should feel good well sourced. Nice info graphics to Jimmy Tomlin ledes and tell the story. of place and covers all aspects of its about their work. This particular piece 3rd Place accompany. Excellent to dedicate each Nice ledes. However, my favorite one The package lets readers move through community. stands out because it reads like a page- HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE piece to one facet of the issue, including violated AP Style. whichever way they prefer: print, stills turning detective novel. It has just the right Paul B. Johnson and Lee O. Sanderlin the final piece on solutions and moving or video and each element amplifies the tone and a style that had me racing to find Can schools return to city control? forward. others.” out what happened in Nora Randle’s quest to find her birth mother. Superb work!

28 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 29

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 28-29 2/5/20 1:55 PM DIVISION D Daily newspapers under 12,500 circulation 2019 / Editorial Excellence

2nd Place PHOTO PAGE OR ESSAY 2nd Place 3rd Place 3rd Place SPORTS ENTERPRISE 3rd Place WILSON TIMES 1st Place HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE TIMES-NEWS (H) REPORTING NEWS HERALD Drew C. Wilson WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS Michael Lindsay Jimmy Tomlin Staff 1st Place Paul Schenkel Family farm auction lures buyers Ashley Vansant, Elizabeth Reed Culp’s hat trick keys Wildcats’ win The Fallen Star Game of End Zones STAR (SHELBY) Quaker Meadows Shank Haunting interludes of silence work okay. Beaufort County 4-H Livestock Show A solid contender in a very competitive Goofy theme, but strong stories and good Dustin George Very thorough reporting. Would have been Too bad you didn’t have the face on-camera 3RD PLACE category. layout put together with following through Student feels school scammed him easy to get that much information muddled for the interview. 2nd Place GASTON GAZETTE on the concept gave a novel way to get in a way difficult to follow, but the concise TIMES-NEWS (H) John Clark RELIGION & FAITH around the annual, potentially bland prep 2nd Place writing avoided that. Must have been a lot sports preview. I am guessing the team of time put into this, and execution made it 3rd Place Patrick Sullivan Sand Splash REPORTING HICKORY DAILY RECORD photos are staged. worthwhile. NEWS HERALD Tears, hugs and reflection on Honor 1st Place Aaron Schnautz Chrissy Murphy and Jonelle Bobak Flight trip PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTS WILSON TIMES SPORTS COLUMNS NADIR NUMBERS: Fewer girls are USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS Operation Blue Christmas Corey Friedman FEATURE 1st Place playing high school basketball, and 1st Place 3rd Place Methodists face split 1st Place DISPATCH coaches are concerned STAR (SHELBY) NEWS ENTERPRISE WILSON TIMES Good, objective overview of an always TIMES NEWS (BURLINGTON) Mike Duprez Staff REPORTING Drew C. Wilson and Lisa Boykin Batts controversial topic. Writing is succinct and 3rd Place Miniature MARVELS Robert Thomason Michael keeps tring; Softball; Browns v Best use of photos 1st Place clear, with excellent reporting. DAILY RECORD An average Joe Bulldogs TIMES-NEWS (H) Jacob Hancock PHOTOGRAPHY, FEATURE Great photos. Nicely Done. 2nd Place Interesting column, easy to read, even for the 2nd Place Andrew Mundhenk Female kickers may become a local trend 1st Place HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE nonlocal person. I would definitely be looking WILSON TIMES Changes, questions & a lawsuit: 2nd Place GASTON GAZETTE Jimmy Tomlin for his Mike’s column if I was a local! Staff Community Foundation checks GASTON GAZETTE SPORTS FEATURE WRITING Mike Hensdill “Heavenly Paintings” Fourth of July; It’s pea-pickin’ time Opportunity House’s nonprofit status John Clark 2nd Place 1st Place Harvest Day Beautifully written story on an amazing woman. The way this story unfolds is interesting. A Tough Night DAILY HERALD Great pic! TIMES-NEWS (H) 3rd Place I know first had the difficulty of getting a 3rd Place Dean Hensley Justin Hayes WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS 2nd Place shot like this during the end game mayhem. 2nd Place ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM A Step Back to 2013: Sarah’s speech; Fit for the part, always Elizabeth Reed DISPATCH Great job. TIMES-NEWS (H) Amelia Harper Game of End Zones: Thank you to all Many compelling subjects entered, Washington Daily News, April 10 and Ben Coley including this one. Though it’s not THE Patrick Sullivan involved; Farewell to Joey April 30, 2019 Hemp, hemp, hooray?; The plant has 3rd Place Prison program trains inmates to be MOST compelling, Hayes crafted the story Well done column. It’s why there are sports been villianized Robotics team wraps up 2019 season DAILY HERALD pastors masterfully. Very interesting and well-reported. Great job. columns - to give light to a subject that USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA Good job making the case for hemp and the Richard Holm needs that type of treatment. industry personal. 3rd Place ‘The Crossing’ 2nd Place 1st Place TIMES NEWS (BURLINGTON) DAILY HERALD Two great photos. good subject matter and SERIOUS COLUMNS 3rd Place DISPATCH Robert Thomason 1st Place Justin Hayes 3rd Place clear shots. DAILY NEWS (JACKSONVILLE) Ben Coley Surprise on third WILSON TIMES ‘Last known address’ GOLDSBORO NEWS-ARGUS Chris Miller A cowboy’s savior Corey Friedman Might want to get this one on Apple Sierra Henry PHOTOGRAPHY, SPOT Chris Miller columns A well-told and entertaining look at a Flooding comes more than just every 1st Place Father’s Day; chambers; Chappelle colorful and lesser known side of sports life. Podcasts. 3rd Place Nice job, Chris. The headline said he would 500 years HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE be missed, and you made me understand TIMES-NEWS (H) Nice perspective story, particularly showing Laura Greene 2nd Place why. Excellent work! 3rd Place VIDEO the flooding affected this farmer. Patrick Sullivan Woman Shocked to Find Vehicle Hanging HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE STAR (SHELBY) 1st Place Rare goat triplets born at Carl in Air Jimmy Tomlin SPORTS COVERAGE Dustin George DAILY HERALD NEWS FEATURE WRITING Sandburg Home Jimmy Tomlin serious columns 1st Place Back in the game Richard Holm 1st Place 2nd Place TIMES NEWS (BURLINGTON) A very great many “injury/illness overcome” Videos by Richard Holm: Bees, graves 3rd Place stories entered this year, this one finds the WILSON TIMES PHOTOGRAPHY, GENERAL Rocky Mount Telegram Bob Sutton, Adam Smith, David Kehrli and monkey Alan Campbell DAILY HERALD spirit of the comeback with precision and Olivia Neeley NEWS March madness Finch enjoying simple pleasures 1st Place Blaze Battlers Tia Bedwell delicacy with his opening anecdote. Kept 2nd Place If you like sports these sections have it all. it interesting with the personal history and I like that you gave us examples of what he’s GASTON GAZETTE Serious columns WILSON TIMES Obviously March Madness was the focus but relationships. done since his release before revealing that John Clark 3rd Place good high school coverage also. I think all Drew C. Wilson he was in prison for something he didn’t do. Times-News (H) SPECIAL SECTION Father Forgives Killer of the major sports are covered in these two SPORTS NEWS REPORTING Dusty sweet potato harvest underway: Patrick Sullivan 1st Place issues with some outdoor sports throw in. Crop rebounds from last year’s 1st Place 2nd Place 2nd Place Storms soak Henderson County HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE hurricane harvest DAILY HERALD HICKORY DAILY RECORD SUN JOURNAL JIMMY TOMLIN 2nd Place Justin Hayes Jordan Hensley Gray Whitley PROFILE FEATURE Hometowns: High Point Confidential TIMES-NEWS (H) 3rd Place With flair, Weldon baseball time shines Who shot a Claremont couple in 2016? PHOTOS: Foam Party! 1st Place Excellent writing by Jimmy Tomlin Staff DAILY ADVANCE Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery? WILSON TIMES packaged in a neat history chapter book. Sports Coverage The best one. Instantly engaging. Snappy Malcolm Shields and creative while getting right to the point Drew C. Wilson Novel concept. Graphics package fit Good local sports coverage. Variety of sports 3rd Place of the story. Never lulls. Remains interesting Camden County’s Marcus Joyner fills 3rd Place outstandingly well with the theme. and events mentioned. I loved the design NEWS-TOPIC (LENOIR) 68 years in chicken and pork and engaging as you get to the more role on ODU football team HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE of the “scoreboard” page and how week to David Prewitt Strong writing and good use of sources for a meaningful details. 2nd Place week it rotates from ACC to Big 10. Good Jimmy Tomlin Uh-oh! classic profile. A Long Time Healing STATESVILLE RECORD & LAND- Job. 2nd Place I like that you put us into the middle of MARK PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTS 2nd Place TIMES NEWS (BURLINGTON) what happened. It gives us a connection to DISPATCH Staff 3rd Place 1st Place Adam Smith the victim. High School Football Section HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM Ben Coley Tar Heels storm into Sweet 16 “Good packaging combined with strong Enterprise sports staff Alan Campbell Singing from the soul Best of the gamers. Very engaging. writing made this a standout. I liked how March 2019 The Upside Down this dove into topics “”beyond football”” Good High School Basketball Coverage. with a story on after-game go-tos, for Loved the accompanying page of photos by example.” Mr. Lindsay.

30 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 31

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 30-31 2/5/20 1:55 PM CONGRATULATIONS! We’re proud of the journalists at The Charlotte Observer and the McClatchy Publishing Center in Charlotte, who won 28 awards this year from the North Carolina Press Association. It’s the 23rd consecutive year in which we’ve won at least 20 awards from the NCPA. More importantly, it continues a tradition of journalism that not only distinguishes The Charlotte Observer and charlotteobserver.com, but also connects day after day with our communities and readers.

Congratulations to the journalists of The News & Observer, The Charlotte Observer, The Herald-Sun and Walter Magazine. We are proud of the award-winning journalism, digital reach and commitment to innovative growth, which has never been stronger.

First Place Theoden Janes: Sports Feature Writing Theoden Janes: Feature Writing Shelbi Polk: News Enterprise Reporting Thomasi McDonald: Beat News Drew Jackson: Beat Feature Reporting John D. Simmons: Photography, Feature Robert Willett: Photography, Spot Reporting Kate Murphy, Martha Quillin, Jane Scott Fowler: Religion & Faith Casey Toth: Video Herald-Sun Staff: Breaking News Stancill: Duke University/Green-Rossiter Reporting Coverage Award for Distinguished Newspaper Deon Roberts: Business Writing Work in Higher Education Reporting Langston Wertz Jr.: Sports News First Place: Second Place: Third Place: Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, Carli Reporting Fred Clasen-Kelly, Julianna Rennie: City, Brosseau: Business Writing Will Doran: Election/Political Reporting County Government Reporting Staff: Breaking News Coverage, Staff: Appearance and Design Deon Roberts: Business Writing, Matt Walsh, Stephanie Bunao: Video Bullying preceded fatal shooting of Butler High student, Wells Fargo mistakes cost people their homes. It was just Tammy Grubb, Mark Schultz: City, N&O Staff: General Excellence for Charlotte Observer Staff: Editorial Page officials say. Theoden Janes: Arts and Entertainment Reporting, the start of their problems. County Government Reporting Websites Zachery Eanes: Business Writing Hope Stout’s parents dreamed of making a movie in her Charlotte Observer Staff: General Anna Douglas: City, County Government Reporting, memory. It became a nightmare. Fred Clasen-Kelly, Julianna Rennie: City, County Martha Quillin: Lede Josh Shaffer: Lede Will Doran, Andrew Carter: Election/ Excellence for Websites FBI alerted after black Charlotte officials received threats, Government Reporting, Political Reporting racist letters. Theoden Janes: Feature Writing, Sports Feature Writing Charlotte spent millions on low-income housing, but poor Alex Zietlow: Walter Magazine: Magazine or Niche Jeff Siner: Photography, General News The full story behind the disappearance of one of Charlotte’s Publication Dan Kane: Investigative Reporting Peter St. Onge: Editorials people can’t afford it most beloved works of art. Steve Wiseman: Sports News Reporting David T. Foster III: Photography, Sports

Dan Kane: Sports News Reporting Richard Stradling: Lede Feature Anna Douglas: Feature Writing, Staff: Editorial Page John D. Simmons: Photography, Feature, Andrew Roman, Alma Washington, The man in the maternity ward Happy New Year! Staff: General Excellence for Websites Staff: Use of Social Media, N&O Andrew Roman, Alma Washington, Walter Magazine: Magazine or Niche Scott Fowler: Profile Feature staff: Use of Social Media, Herald-Sun Publication Ames Alexander, Gavin Off, David Raynor: Scott Fowler: Religion & Faith Reporting, Jeff Siner: Photography, General News, Charlotte Observer Staff: Breaking Religion & Faith Reporting Investigative Reporting, Dismissed Tim Funk: The inside story of David Chadwick’s sudden split with His life is not in vain. News Coverage Travis Long: Video Josh Shaffer, Julia Wall, Autumn Forest Hill Church. Scott Fowler, Jeff Siner, Davin Coburn: Multimedia Linford: Multimedia Project Charlotte Observer Staff: Special David T. Foster III: Photography, Sports Feature, Anna Douglas: City, County Government Section Project, Carruth Langston Wertz Jr.: Sports News Reporting, Second Place Eric Reid endures emotions, injury in win over Texans. Reporting Robert Willett: Photo Page or Essay West Charlotte loses home court advantage. Is it about race Theoden Janes: Profile Feature, 4 brothers, all WWII veter- Scott Fowler: Sports Columns or too few seats? Scott Fowler: Profile Feature, Will Doran: Election/Political Reporting ans, all in their 90s: ‘We’re defying the odds, aren’t we?’ Peter St. Onge: Editorials Robert Willett: Photography, Sports My Dad taught me a wonderful lesson. An angry ostrich was Theoden Janes: Sports Feature Writing Matt Walsh, Stephanie Bunao: Video, Herald-Sun Staff: General Excellence Ames Alexander, Gavin Off, David Raynor: Public involved. Anna Douglas: Feature Writing Travis Long: Photography, Spot Brooklyn: How a black community was erased from uptown for Websites Service Award, Dismissed T. Keung Hui: Education Reporting Charlotte. Tim Funk: Religion & Faith Reporting, Ames Alexander, Gavin Off, David Tammy Grubb, Dawn Baumgartner Luke DeCock: Sports Columns Tim Funk: Religion & Faith Reporting Why hasn’t Charlotte Catholic diocese released list of priests , Raynor: Investigative Reporting Vaughan: General News Reporting Dan Kane, David Raynor: Election/ Minister’s daughters ask: Why is photo of our father, accused of sex abuse? Jonathan M Alexander: Sports Political Reporting a pedophile, on a church wall? Scott Fowler, Jeff Siner, Davin Coburn: Enterprise Reporting Staff: Special Section, Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan Multimedia Project Jessica Banov, Mike Williams, Steve 25 Years of Panthers Football Religion & Faith Reporting Theoden Janes: Sports Feature Writing, Chavez: Email newsletter Dale Jr. thought he’d have fun writing a memoir. Then he Third Place Scott Fowler: Sports Columns Theoden Janes: Profile Feature Charlotte Observer Staff: Appearance relived his darkest days. N&O Staff: Headline Writing and Design Zachery Eanes: Business Writing Theoden Janes: Sports Feature Writing, Ames Alexander, Gavin Off, David She could be the next Danica. But for now, she’s stuck Raynor: Public Service Award Carli Brosseau, Alex Lang: Investigative Theoden Janes: Arts and Entertainment Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan: Election/ driving an old Mazda mini SUV. Reporting Reporting Tim Funk: Religion & Faith Reporting Political Reporting

32 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 33

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 32-33 2/5/20 1:55 PM DIVISION E Daily newspapers 12,500-35,000 circulation 2019 / Editorial Excellence

APPEARANCE AND 2nd Place CITY, COUNTY EDITORIAL PAGE 2nd Place EMAIL NEWSLETTER 2nd Place 3rd Place DESIGN STARNEWS GOVERNMENT 1st Place ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES 1st Place HERALD-SUN STARNEWS 1st Place Renee Spencer REPORTING SALISBURY POST Brian Gordon STARNEWS Tammy Grubb, Dawn Baumgartner Staff STARNEWS Transportation Beat 1st Place Josh Bergeron How Buncombe County’s opportunity Hunter Ingram Vaughan Wilmington’s Changing Skyline Staff HERALD-SUN Editorial pages from July 7, 9, 28 scholarships are distributed Cape Fear Unearthed Gen News - light-rail consultant A city skyline in motion is reflected on Jan. 5-6, 2019 3rd Place Tammy Grubb, Mark Schultz lots of political reading; however, An absolutely infuriating story that Nice feature stories “A powerful scoop indeed from Dawn this map with photos of the “moving” enjoyed the local focus and variety. developments on target. Easy for readers to Clean design; great readability. STARNEWS City/County govt - Linda Sarsour talk really needs to be talked about more Baumgartner Vaughn and Tammy across all communities. This is a great Grubb of the Herald-Sun. A consultant connect the key elements to their locations. Hunter Ingram Great coverage of speech - before, during 2nd Place enterprising story that will hopefully start for the Durham-Orange Light Rail 2nd Place Film Beat and after event. Nice followup story 1st Place ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES conversations in Buncombe County about Transit project was given a $443,457 SALISBURY POST about impact of speech. Good use of STARNEWS Mackensy Lunsford INVESTIGATIVE how tax dollars are at work. This is a contract despite officials knowing he Staff variety of sources, all with differing but Scott Nunn (In)side Dish REPORTING BREAKING NEWS great example of watchdog journalism. pleaded guilty to felony fraud while he relevant opinions. Good historical context Editorial Page Nice extension of website 1st Place COVERAGE was a transportation official in Arizona. provided. Continuity between stories I’m not a fan of the typography and STARNEWS ARTS AND 1st Place 3rd Place Excellent reporting. “ good. column spacing, but I appreciate the local 3rd Place Ashley Morris ENTERTAINMENT HERALD-SUN SALISBURY POST editorials and balance of opinion. Letters ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Restaurant Inspections REPORTING Staff or local columnists would be a plus. This Josh Bergeron, Andie Foley, Sha- 3rd Place 2nd Place David Thompson Great in-depth coverage of a concerning 1st Place Durham Gas Explosion is the only entry I see in the offering. vonne Walker ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES STARNEWS Inside the Huddle issue that impacts so many people’s health. ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES “Far and away the best entry in this Jennifer Bowman, David Thompson Gareth McGrath Faith school closure Nice extension of website Outstanding reporting. And, taking it a category Riley Howell shooting coverage Bruce Steele Potential hospital sale 2nd Place “Strong anecdotal lead to connect the step further by publishing results on your A tragic accident but excellent journalism A harrowing eyewitness account of a mass Biltmore Estate holiday coverage Well-written pieces - nice tie-in to larger DAILY REFLECTOR story to the audience in the first story. The site was taking a stance for action that I’m Great photos FEATURE WRITING shooting at UNC-Charlotte from Citizen national issues of healthcare costs and staff second story had a lot of good details that sure was a key motivational factor in this Great followup with more stories 1st Place Times reporter David Thompson. Chilling 2nd Place uncertainties. Good information for local The Daily Reflector answered questions in the first. Timeliness ongoing success story. connected to the story ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES and emotional — stories like these are SALISBURY POST citizens, and notification of chance to be lots of letters to the editor, which might is high and writing is compelling. Good use of your digital assets” Brian Gordon what make newspapers essential. Mark Wineka engaged in issue. Good coverage of various stand in the way of more variety on LEDE Any time a board is talking about closing ‘A kind crazy’: Inside the competitive Bugle corps marches to its own beat options under consideration. Nice use of editorial page; good local, state appeal. 1st Place 2nd Place schools, emotions will be high, and the world of guinea pig shows HEADLINE WRITING sources with various perspectives. Good HERALD-SUN STARNEWS author was right to focus on that. These Fascinating look at the niche world of 1st Place 3rd Place info graphs to support story. EDITORIALS Martha Quillin Staff stories are well sourced and get to the guinea pig shows. Well-sourced and well- SALISBURY POST STARNEWS 1st Place Leads - Martha Quillin Faulty equipment prompts Topsail 3rd Place heart of the battle to keep a school open. told tale. Bobby Parker Hunter Ingram STARNEWS The series deeply explores are perspectives High shooter fears ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Masonry student laying a foundation Swamp Thing Scott Nunn on the issue.” 2nd Place Joel Burgess 2nd Place for his future School, hospital editorials SALISBURY POST 3rd Place Chris Hickman is sentenced SALISBURY POST Masonry student laying a foundation BEAT FEATURE ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Well-reasoned editorials that get to the ELECTION/POLITICAL Josh Bergeron Andie Foley Good coverage of story involving issue heart of the issues. Great support and for his future. Very accurate, impactful REPORTING Jennifer Bowman, John Boyle, Mack- of local as well as national interest. REPORTING Co-workers bond over cancer and while it may not be a huge attention Foley ledes frankness of the need for transparency in 1st Place 1st Place ensy Lunsford Very good sourcing from CJ scholars, local government. Well done. Emotional story about two women who grabber, it clearly describes the story with ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Tiyquasha Simuel death coverage attorney, DA, city commissioners. ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES battled breast cancer, one of whom has creativity. 3rd Place STARNEWS Elizabeth Anne Brown Balanced approach. Good consideration 2nd Place Joel Burgess seen cancer return. Juneteenth: Remembering Asheville’s BUSINESS WRITING of implications of sentencing, including SALISBURY POST North Carolina gerrymandering 2nd Place John Staton the question of officer’s ability to be in law 3rd Place slaves in their own words 1st Place Josh Bergeron I’ve read several gerrymandering stories in STARNEWS Primal howl; For the love of the game; enforcement again. this contest and these provide, by far, the SALISBURY POST HANDS DOWN Winner in this category. HERALD-SUN Landis board, Faith closure, Wil-Cox John Staton Gale-force comedy clearest explanation of the situation for Mark Wineka Eye opening glimpse back into a history Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, Carli bridge Pith and vinegar; O-thell-yes; Playing COMMUNITY COVERAGE readers. Complete and easy to understand. Not so good, son many would hope would be forgotten. Brosseau Beat out my the smallest of margins. in ‘toon LIGHTER COLUMNS 1st Place Nice work. You have to read pretty deep into the story Poignant and touching. No other entry Business - Gentrification in Durham The issues of the first-place winner were O-thell-yes. This headline was very 1st Place came close. Captivating! GREAT WORK! STARNEWS for the headline quote, but it’s worth it. creative and catchy. However, sub SALISBURY POST Comprehensive but long. simply stronger. Still, great editorials, 2nd Place Staff well written and concise. All gave good headline needs improvement to present Mark Wineka 2nd Place HERALD-SUN GENERAL NEWS more clarity of the overall story, plus more 2nd Place April 4, 2019; April 14, 2019 explanations of the issues. Wineka columns SALISBURY POST Will Doran impactful font usage to grab attention. ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Impressive variety of community-centered REPORTING Mark weaves heartwarming stories with Mark Wineka news and features. NC ballot officials vote against new Mackensy Lunsford 3rd Place 1st Place good prose. Searching for Anna election-security rules, citing 2020 ILLUSTRATION/PHOTO Women lead the way as hemp revival DAILY REFLECTOR ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Amazing story of a journey to the past. 2nd Place time crunch ILLUSTRATION/PRINT OR 2nd Place sweeps WNC Bobby Burns Staff Great work. SALISBURY POST Now more than ever; Annexation Well done and comprehensive story on a Wanda Greene, ex-Buncombe INTERACTIVE GRAPHICS StarNews Both broad view and personal. vital issue of public interest. Staff raises concerns; Time for reset officials sentenced in federal 1st Place Ashley Morris 3rd Place April 17 and April 18 STARNEWS Dine & Dish 3rd Place Well-crafted editorials. Author showed 3rd Place corruption probe SALISBURY POST Even the international news is handled vast knowledge of the issues. Well done. Alex Riley Fun and light writing with some HERALD-SUN HERALD-SUN Extensive coverage of a long-running Mark Wineka with local voices. Nice coverage of scheme to rig contracts by a crew of Seahawk Saturday substance and thought behind it. Zachery Eanes education and the arts. Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan Everly the lionhearted EDUCATION REPORTING criminals posing as public servants and An appealing and compelling graphic to Business - Pig Farmers What the state budget standoff is Touching tribute to a beautiful baby’s will 1st Place businessmen. Well done Jennifer Bowman, launch an appealing and compelling day 3rd Place 3rd Place to leave. Beautiful layout, beautiful title. ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES costing NC taxpayers John Boyle and Mackenzie Wicker of of athletic competition. ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Amazing work! ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Well-written and thorough story about the Brian Gordon Citizen Times for helping to expose public Karen Chávez Staff financial cost of the budget impasse and corruption. You are truly a credit to the Accessibility seen as a barrier to racial, 2nd Place Columns on a variety of outdoors BEAT NEWS REPORTING Asheville Community Coverage the toll it took on lawmakers. Other than profession of journalism. SALISBURY POST topics economic diversity in area charter the added expense, was there any cost to 1st Place Local news is forefront with full impact Andy Mooney Karen covers interesting ideas for her schools the voters in services or aid? HERALD-SUN and context. Features offer a look at what’s columns. A fantastically enterprising story that Travel expenses graphic Thomasi McDonald special in Asheville. explores a timely and important issue with Mayor’s travelogue ranges far and wide ‘Tired of burying young people.’ A clear impact to the audience. as depicted in this expense graphic. The Durham funeral home serves the visual imperative must surely attract city’s murder victims. readers to the story.

34 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 35

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 34-35 2/5/20 1:55 PM DIVISION E Daily newspapers 12,500-35,000 circulation 2019 / Editorial Excellence

MAGAZINE OR NICHE 2nd Place 2nd Place 2nd Place 3rd Place SPORTS COLUMNS 3rd Place USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA PUBLICATION SALISBURY POST SALISBURY POST ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES SALISBURY POST 1st Place DAILY REFLECTOR 1st Place 1st Place Natalie Alms Jon Lakey Angeli Wright Mark Wineka SALISBURY POST Nathan Summers HERALD-SUN SALISBURY POST Foster parent shortage Barn quilt Madison vs North Buncombe Church builds bridges Dennis Davidson Dollars and sense: The value of the Andrew Roman, Alma Washington, Staff Vivid, eye-catching photo. Great work. softball Davidson sports columns public course staff Salisbury the Magazine Aug 2019 3rd Place SERIOUS COLUMNS Good work, good research, great subjects. Excellent piece of sports enterprise The Herald-Sun’s social media use This entry easily stood out over the HERALD-SUN 3rd Place 3rd Place 1st Place Really liked the where are they now journalism. Great quotes and Very cohesive otherwise strong category. The cover story Shelbi Polk STARNEWS ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES softball team and the measles column. The organization - and for taking an was very done — well written with a How many human-trafficking Matt Born Angela Wilhelm John Boyle research made them both interesting even interesting angle on such an important 2nd Place good design that didn’t skimp on photos. victims work in NC massage parlors? Shave For Sean Out at sunset to someone who does not have an local subject. STARNEWS Selection of John Boyle’s serious connection. You did not assume everyone Overall the publication is a very nice More than you may think. Great photo captures the spirit of columns Staff magazine. I can see where it would serve . reading your words would have local SPORTS FEATURE humanity in the event. Good work PHOTOGRAPHY, SPOT This column will put a lump in your StarNews Social Media it’s intended audience well. knowledge. NEWS FEATURE WRITING 1st Place throat. It was a tough thing for him to WRITING I see that one of my friends from college PHOTOGRAPHY, write, but goodness, it’s something that 1st Place has liked the Facebook page. She has good 2nd Place 1st Place STARNEWS 2nd Place GENERAL NEWS needs to be written about. Excellent! HERALD-SUN taste. SALISBURY POST STARNEWS Matt Born DAILY REFLECTOR Cammie Bellamy 1st Place Hurricane Dorian Rain Staff Alex Zietlow Staff ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES 2nd Place ‘This story could save someone’s life:’ VIDEO Salisbury the Magazine Oct. 2018 ‘You stole my childhood’ Great catch of someone directly affected Ronnie Woodward sports columns Angeli Wright by the weather. Viewer can feel the rain SALISBURY POST UNC football’s Jake Lawler on his 1st Place Good solid entry. Particularly enjoyed the Excellent reporting and writing. A Riley Howell comes home pelting down. Nice! Mark Wineka depression ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES sand feature, arts feature and the home young woman fights for justice in her 3rd Place Great composition, emotion and detail Wineka serious columns Angeli Wright restoration. Photos throughout were good, own case. STARNEWS in this shot. Viewers can feel the grief. Hard-hitting column. It’s something that but appeared a bit grainy — likely printed 2nd Place Alex Riley 2nd Place 10-year-old gymnast Zoe Smith every reader will digest completely. We well and just showed that way in the high- 2nd Place SALISBURY POST Perfect Ending; Hurricane Relief ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES 2nd Place need more columnists like this! 2nd Place res electronic version. Overall very well done. DAILY REFLECTOR Jon Lakey Game; Welcome Back David Thompson Ginger Livingston ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Rollin’ in the river ‘Seth Strong’: Mitchell football player ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Angela Wilhelm SPECIAL SECTION 3rd Place Your family is part of me Unique moment, makes the viewer SPORTS COVERAGE remembers life, death of younger Angeli Wright STARNEWS Well-written, touching story of a lung Keesha Martinez at Dixon want to know more beyond the obvious 1st Place brother An Asheville dad’s road to recovery 1st Place Staff and liver transplant recipient and the sentencing subject of the photo. ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES DAILY REFLECTOR Port City Life Magazine family of the organ donor. A very good A close second in a tough category. Love Staff 3rd Place 3rd Place 3rd Place Staff Really like the design and look. Always read. the emotion and composition, with the 2019 High School Football Preview SALISBURY POST HERALD-SUN HERALD-SUN The Daily Reflector nice to see a publication that’s not afraid of comforting hand telling another layer to One of the best Football Previews around. Mark Wineka Casey Toth 3rd Place this story. Well done. Robert Willett Great balance of the local coverage that’s white space and uses that white space well. Excellent job. Very thorough and in- She touched all the bases This big, beloved oak was spared the depth coverage. Outstanding photos. important to readers with news from Lots of useful quick-hitters and a well- ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Gas explosion aftermath chainsaw twice. But, alas, it must 3rd Place Well-composed shot with plenty to look This section alone adds value to overall across the sports world done piece on the cover lady. Good job. Sam DeGrave SPORTS NEWS come down now. A 3-year-old with leukemia needs a STARNEWS at. publication. 2nd Place MULTIMEDIA PROJECT bone marrow transplant. Her race Matt Born REPORTING 2nd Place STARNEWS 1st Place 1st Place complicates the search Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall PROFILE FEATURE SALISBURY POST Staff HERALD-SUN STARNEWS Toddler in need of a bone marrow Great composition here. Nice balance. 1st Place March 2-3, 2019 Hunter Ingram transplant faces high hurdle because of STARNEWS Staff Steve Wiseman Early March is a phenomenally busy time ‘Firestarter’ lit the fire of local film difficulty in finding biracial matches. PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTS Alex Riley Progress edition 2019 After Duke clears Zion Williamson, A nearly perfect example of what a in the sports world, and this is a good This is well done. Great usage of video, 1st Place Striving for change Michael Avenatti insists Nike paid the PHOTO PAGE OR ESSAY STARNEWS “Special Section” should be. Very nice, example of how to fit it all in without it basketball star slides and writing. being overwhelming to the reader 1st Place Alex Riley 2nd Place eye-catching and inspirational stories and photos. Advertising alignment also 2nd Place DAILY REFLECTOR No Response STARNEWS 2nd Place good in most places. Could improve by SPORTS ENTERPRISE STARNEWS ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Molly Mathis and Deborah Griffin Great shot that was right on timing! Ashley Morris adding events coverage and some historical Mackensy Lunsford, Angeli Wright President Trump’s visit Girls rule at these Roudabush REPORTING Alex Riley coverage. 1st Place Evolution of a dish: Noble Cider’s The 2nd Place Restaurants One Last Surprise ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Greenhouse 2nd Place ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES 3rd Place David Thompson Well done. Incorporating video for one story, and STARNEWS Angela Wilhelm 3rd Place STARNEWS 3rd Place Late start time for basketball games pictures for another, then a combination, I like that. Matt Born Rams win SALISBURY POST Staff STARNEWS causing problems Fort Fisher re-enacts battle The emotion is showing in these photos. Mark Wineka Hurricane Florence Special Section Jackson Fuller What a wonderfully observant take on ‘Cats Celebrate 3rd Place Charles Newsome keeps building Outstanding pictures. Great use of tying a story that many of us are familiar DAILY REFLECTOR 3rd Place 3rd Place everything together as a “Special Section” with - but probably never written about. Bobby Burns DAILY REFLECTOR RELIGION & FAITH as this embodies an industry example. USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS SALISBURY POST Excellent piece of journalism. Rally for ‘The Squad’ Sean Meyers Molly Mathis REPORTING Could have used a few more stories or side 1st Place Falcons roll on articles. STARNEWS Great way to make print and online Woodleaf tomato festival 1st Place 2nd Place work together. Cool shot! The player’s foot coming DAILY REFLECTOR ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Staff PHOTOGRAPHY, toward the camera added depth to it. Kim Grizzard April 4 and April 21, 2019 NEWS ENTERPRISE David Thompson FEATURE Message of Easter A team of their own: Rise in female PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTS 2nd Place REPORTING 1st Place wrestling numbers prompting change 1st Place FEATURE SALISBURY POST SALISBURY POST 2nd Place in the sport ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES 1st Place Staff Jon Lakey HERALD-SUN Well written piece of sports journalism. STARNEWS Salisbury Post use of photographs Joel Burgess Tomato fight Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan Loved the quotes from the girls who Matt Born NC liquor privatization: More Great non posed shot captures the Gentrification in Durham: ‘We’re pursued the sport. Nicely done! convenience? Higher prices? Public spirit of the event and emotion of those YMCA Wrightsville Beach Sprint not going anywhere,’ says pastor of health problems? photographed. Well done. Triathlon historic black church

36 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 37

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 36-37 2/5/20 1:55 PM With gratitude to the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media and the Knight-Lenfest Newsroom Initiative for supporting community journalism and The News Reporter. A 2019 winner:

ONlINe DIvIsION 1st plaCe prizes for Breaking news winner for Feature writing, Thank from The News Reporter staff photography, Hurricane Dorian coverage editorials You BH Media group manages 2019 winner of 17 awards including the Henry Lee Weathers Freedom of Information In print monthly, March to December. Online at: Award, the Duke University/Green-Rossiter Award for Distinguished Newspaper Work BH MEDIA GROUP the printing of most of the in Higher Education Reporting, the 2018 General Excellence Award OcracokeObserver.com nd company’s 30 daily newspapers and 2 place 2018 General Excellence for Newspaper Websites Need a photo or story about Ocracoke? Publishing Solutions Contact us at: [email protected] as well as over 200 other weekly newspapers and other specialty publications. We offer complete printing solutions that can meet almost any web offset need at one of our state-of-the-art printing facilities in the United States. 6 AWARDS CONGRATULATIONS ALEX FARMER For more information, 1ST PLACE Advertising Campaign 1ST PLACE Use of Color please call, Mike Sewell, 2ND PLACE Use of Color 828-446-8261 TO OUR STAFF [email protected] IAN MCDOWELL 1ST PLACE Investigative Reporting

CHARLES WOMACK 3RD PLACE General Excellence YOUR ENTERTAINMENT SOURCE! for Website Covering Winston-Salem, Greensboro & High Point KATIE MURAWSKI, SINCE 2005 NATALIE GARCIA & 5500 ADAMS FARM LANE, STE 204 • GREENSBORO, NC 336.316.1231 • WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM LAUREN BRADY @YESWEEKLY • /YESWEEKLY • @YESWEEKLY336 1ST PLACE Use of Social Media

38 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 39

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 38-39 2/5/20 1:55 PM DIVISION F Daily newspapers over 35,000 circulation 2019 / Editorial Excellence

APPEARANCE AND 3rd Place 2nd Place EDITORIAL PAGE 3rd Place FEATURE WRITING 3rd Place 3rd Place DESIGN WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL NEWS & OBSERVER 1st Place NEWS & OBSERVER 1st Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL 1ST PLACE Michael Hewlett Zachery Eanes NEWS & RECORD T. Keung Hui CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Michael Hewlett, John Hinton, Lisa Cassandra Sherrill NEWS & RECORD ‘Here to keep you breathing’ -- Drug- Business - Rural broadband Allen Johnson, Margaret Wimmer Your child’s teacher likely wasn’t Anna Douglas O’Donnell North Carolina interstates Staff treatment court faces challenges This is a fascinating story and something I News & Record editorial pages fingerprinted during hiring. Are The man in the maternity ward One dead in mall shooting/’Why him? “A nice job of illustrating something that News & Record appearance and Good clear and solid reporting hadn’t thought about. Well done! students at risk? What a superb and informative series. An Why him?’/Joines: Investigation will would be really hard to explain in words design 2nd Place This story reveals a troubling issue in the state excellent writer told a story about an unusual be transparent alone. Engaging enough that I got caught N & R January 6th - Love the front page BEAT NEWS REPORTING 3rd Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL system and considers many different important occurrence without sensationalizing or making Excellent comprehensive coverage of up reading the trivia even though I’m really busy. Top two entries were more of this, very eye catching. 1st Place CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Staff perspectives on the topic. The story also does an the subject an object of ridicule. An exemplar police involved shooting. Good follow of sensitivity and fine storytelling. original & creative, but there’s nothing WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Deon Roberts Cooper steps up on climate change/ excellent job of getting into some of the contextual up of investigation, vigil, FOI activities elements. Solid reporting. bad about this entry. Note: Try to include 2nd Place John Hinton Wells Fargo mistakes cost people their Voter ID is still a bad idea for release of footage, NAACP action. 2nd Place Sourced very well from a number of scale when creating maps. “ CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Fighting murder and mistrust homes. It was just the start of their CHARLOTTE OBSERVER perspectives. Good continuity between Staff Great job to highlight such a significant problems 3rd Place ELECTION/POLITICAL Theoden Janes stories. Nice tie in to national issue of INVESTIGATIVE Appearance and Design yardstick for a community! Great job adding a face to the story. Very CHARLOTTE OBSERVER REPORTING The full story behind the officer involved shootings. REPORTING competitive entries this year. Staff 1st Place disappearance of one of Charlotte’s 1st Place 3rd Place 2nd Place NEWS & OBSERVER Editorial pages HEADLINE WRITING CHARLOTTE OBSERVER WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL CITY, COUNTY Will Doran most beloved works of art Wonderful tale of a quirky man and the 1st Place Ames Alexander, Gavin Off, David Staff Michael Hewlett GOVERNMENT How lawmakers reshaped NC EDITORIALS quirky art produced in his honor - along WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL ‘Never thought this day would come’ districts, using midnight work sessions Raynor Sept. 14, 15, 2019 REPORTING 1st Place with the quirky adventures of that art. Staff Wonderful treatment for a heartwarming story. and lottery balls Dismissed 1st Place CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Hogging the show/Amazon is First rate and first class. Strong, broad look at a problem and ARTS AND CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Peter St. Onge 3rd Place fulfilling plan for Kernersville/Whistle provides a solution by highlighting the 3rd Place ENTERTAINMENT Anna Douglas Collection of editorials: Peter St. Onge WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL full scope of the issue. Tight copy. Multiple WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL 2nd Place while you work FBI alerted after black Charlotte Bravo! Lisa O’Donnell Sense of humor in the headline fits the leads pursued to give a whole-picture REPORTING John Hinton NEWS & OBSERVER 1st Place officials received threats, racist letters A bond of song story well. report. Sheriff to end ICE contract/’We will Will Doran, Andrew Carter WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Important and taut. 2nd Place Strong re-telling of how Appalachian folk music not be an extension of ICE/ The impact of NC gerrymandering: Lisa O’Donnell NEWS & RECORD made it to the world stage via the friendship of a 2nd Place 2nd Place Very newsy story well documented and Dividing races, cities and a campus Factory town to artsy hamlet 2nd Place Allen Johnson New Yorker looking for a dulcimer and a multi- NEWS & RECORD NEWS & OBSERVER presented. Lucky readers! Excellent description of dry subject. instrumentalist who shared his music. The writing in this piece is phenomenal. FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER Allen Johnson editorials Staff Dan Kane The details are beautiful and it hooked me John Henderson Excellent editorials. Tough decision not News & Record headlines UNC Development Finance Initiative 3rd Place right away. It makes me want to visit. BREAKING NEWS Fayetteville’s Civil War museum to make first place. Well-reasoned, strong GENERAL NEWS The subtlety of Calm after the storm investigation NEWS & OBSERVER COVERAGE controversy opinions, concise. Readers must love REPORTING creeps up on you. I particularly like the Good digging that places accountability Dan Kane, David Raynor 2nd Place 1st Place Thoughtful coverage on difficult subject, reading these editorials. 1st Place rhythm and rhyme of Early birds get the upon a palpable conflict of interest that CHARLOTTE OBSERVER CHARLOTTE OBSERVER but could have used more background. Thousands of state employees got WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL words. so far has enrichened one man’s business network. Theoden Janes Staff 3rd Place big raises – up to 65 percent. Now Wesley Young Hope Stout’s parents dreamed of making Bullying preceded fatal shooting of 3rd Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL lawmakers are objecting. Clearing the way/Business 40 closure 3rd Place Straightforward coverage of a thorny 3rd Place a movie in her memory. It became a Butler High student, officials say CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Mick Scott Nice series on closing of interstate business loop NEWS & OBSERVER problem. nightmare. Outstanding coverage and package. It does Fred Clasen-Kelly, Julianna Rennie The Confederate statue conundrum/ for construction. I’m sure local citizens found it Staff NEWS & OBSERVER a good job of telling a very sad story. Charlotte spent millions on low- Let animal cruelty lead to kindness/ informative and useful. Good use of logo to brand Yes, UConn did steal NC State’s logo. But Carli Brosseau, Alex Lang 3rd Place income housing, but poor people Medicaid expansion EMAIL NEWSLETTER story and make it easy to identify. Great use of they’re very sorry about it ‘How many have to die?’ Mental WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL 2nd Place can’t afford it Excellent arguments. Well written, concise 1st Place a variety of sources from a number of different health patients endure nightmare Lynn Felder WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Thorough. and great logic. Tough category with other WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL viewpoints, including business owner who had to ILLUSTRATION/PHOTO transport conditions Living history John Hinton great editorial writers. John Dell shut down. Good continuity between stories - . Also ILLUSTRATION/PRINT OR The investigation looked at multiple sides good info on importance of that piece of highway Beautiful story about this important festival. Woman pulled from burning car COMMUNITY COVERAGE Game week for the Winston-Salem and had to fight through resistance to to transportation infrastructure in the city. INTERACTIVE GRAPHICS report the news. I was riveted to the piece. The photos helped Good coverage with an excellent personal 1st Place EDUCATION REPORTING State Rams 1st Place add so much personality. Bravo! touch. The social media and website WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL 1st Place Great idea for football fans WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL coverage add to the entry. 2nd Place LEDE Staff NEWS & RECORD Andrew Dye 2nd Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL 1st Place BEAT FEATURE Dec. 8, Dec. 9 2018 Jessie Pounds Stronger Things 3rd Place Jessie Pounds education opportunity WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL John Hinton, Jenny Drabble NEWS & OBSERVER REPORTING Very close category. The variety of topics and the Wake’s yearbook had blackface, KKK Gorgeous work, amazingly cool concept, 1st Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL quality of reporting and writing made the difference. schools Ethan Joyce Josh Shaffer images tying these promos into pop culture. Top- NEWS & OBSERVER Michael Hewlett, John Hinton, Sarah “This is a deep dive into an interesting The most overstated and understated notch, original work! Leads - Josh Shaffer Newell new program that has the potential to game for App State this year Very good local angle on a national issue. Instantly engaging and get quickly to the Drew Jackson 2nd Place well organized, well written. Nice use Bodycam video shows officer told have a high impact on the community. Nice! heart of the story. They make you want to Raleigh’s Ashley Christensen takes NEWS & RECORD of a variety of sources with different 2nd Place teenage girl in Winston-Salem to stop read on, which is what a good lead should home James Beard Award for best Staff perspectives. Good zoom out to give NEWS & RECORD 17 times before arrest What stands out in this story is that the 3rd Place do. Revealing detail without hyperbole. chef in the US News & Record community coverage reporting includes important limitations national context of issue. Tim Rickard Very detailed article and use of video to NEWS & OBSERVER Great writing and very entertaining with This paper does an excellent job giving readers a of the program for the schools to consider.” Tim Rickard illustration sharks 2nd Place lots of info about chefs and their awards. tell the story really helps. sense of place about their community. The animal Jessica Banov, Mike Williams, Steve “Relieved to see Washington’s not on the NEWS & OBSERVER shelter story was especially we’ll done. Chavez list of states with shark attacks at all. BUSINESS WRITING 2nd Place Richard Stradling 2nd Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Tar Heel of the Year Award newsletters 1st Place 3rd Place An excellent example of using the graphics Leads - Richard Stradling Winston-Salem Journal Fran Daniel WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER to add meaning, not just as decoration. You know what you’re going to be reading Jenny Drabble A spark to serve about right away, and the inherent drama Feral Fix Richard Craver Staff The quality of the art & design are A+. This is a great program to highlight and a 2nd place only because the 1st place entry is introduced immediately. Excellent I liked the opening and it hooked me Issue of the century The Fayetteville Observer great story that clearly discusses impact to is more original. foreshadowing without giving it all away. immediately. I now know the difference Great visuals, lots of information. Very Good job capturing the event of the week the community with a human emotional between feral and stray! well done in a very competitive category. for the area: opening the stadium. connection. Also, I’m still creeped out. “

40 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 41

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 40-41 2/5/20 1:55 PM DIVISION F Daily newspapers over 35,000 circulation 2019 / Editorial Excellence

3rd Place MULTIMEDIA PROJECT PHOTO PAGE OR ESSAY 2nd Place 2nd Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL 2nd Place 3rd Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL 1st Place 1st Place NEWS & OBSERVER WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Mick Scott NEWS & RECORD WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Lisa O’Donnell CHARLOTTE OBSERVER WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Robert Willett Lynn Felder It’s not as simple as black and Staff John Dell Channeling their grief/Musical Scott Fowler, Jeff Siner, Davin Coburn Andrew Dye Zion blows out his Nike Play on: Sandresky’s musical life draws white/Take me to the place I love/ News & Record sports coverage Boulware’s handling of fight led to his journey/Town wants feline mascot Carruth Training for Battle Not a typical sports moment -- which helps on past, extends into future Weatherman Layout is good and easy to follow and read. firing back on duty Amazing images. Really convey the sense of this entry, as its significance is broader than Scott makes his points without polemics, Compelling set-ups for the stories that 2nd Place danger and risk associated with firefighting. the game itself. Great perspective 3rd Place and treats the reader as if they are on other SPORTS ENTERPRISE side of a conversation rather than just USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS follow. I was encouraged to find out more. NEWS & OBSERVER CHARLOTTE OBSERVER REPORTING 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place being talked to. Easy to stay engaged. Josh Shaffer, Julia Wall, Autumn Scott Fowler 1st Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL NEWS & OBSERVER NEWS & RECORD LIGHTER COLUMNS Linford My Dad taught me a wonderful NEWS & RECORD Staff Robert Willett Woody Marshall SPECIAL SECTION 1st Place A wanted man remained free. A girl lesson. An angry ostrich was involved. Brant Wilkerson-New April 1, April 4, 2019 High school football holds hurricane Woody Marshall: Smith v. Northwest 1st Place Winston-Salem Journal was murdered. How the system failed Brant Wilkerson-New: Function vs. Fashio devastated community together football WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Mick Scott Hania Aguilar. RELIGION & FAITH Both interesting and informative in ways 2nd Place Very powerful photos to tell this uplifting Great action and expression here, pic taken Staff Southern accent/Bigfoot/Above the REPORTING that draw the reader in wanting to continue. NEWS & RECORD planet story of recovery. at the perfect moment. Kudos. Stronger Things 3rd Place 1st Place Staff Nice mix of topics, engaging tone, and Great theme, graphics and content! WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL 3rd Place CHARLOTTE OBSERVER 2nd Place News & Record use of photos (from a reader’s perspective) not overly Staff WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTS NEWS & OBSERVER long. Personable but not all about himself. FEATURE Tim Funk 2nd Place Honoring our veterans: Stories, photos and Allison Lee Isley Minister’s daughters ask: Why is photo Jonathan M Alexander 1st Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA 2nd Place video from men and women who served High Stepping of our father, a pedophile, on a church ACC after hours: For power programs, 1st Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Staff WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Wow. Do these ever tell a story! Very fun wall? playing at 9 p.m. is the price of NEWS & OBSERVER Andrew Dye Valor, Honor, Sacrifice: Paying tribute Lynn Felder NEWS ENTERPRISE and exciting. Very comprehensive story - the story of this prominence Andrew Roman, Alma Washington, staff Mustangs on the run to the veterans in our community Mystery theater/Passageway Park/ REPORTING pedophile former minister is largely told The News & Observer’s social media use 1st Place PHOTOGRAPHY, FEATURE What a sports feature photo (well, series of through his daughters, his sister, his former 3rd Place Park(ing)Day challenges urban use photos, right?) is supposed to be: well-composed, 3rd Place Good integration of content across all social WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL 1st Place wife and his former supervisor. Story flows WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Good reporting enhances the storytelling. Subject fun, illustrative of a bigger story... great job CHARLOTTE OBSERVER media platforms matter that readers are likely to interested in if Michael Hewlett WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL well and is well organized. Using the focus Ethan Joyce Staff they are invested in their community. But did he kill her? Andrew Dye point of his daughters requesting his photo Coaching limbo/Right people at the 2nd Place 2nd Place be taken from the church wall works well 25 Years of Panthers Football “Very thorough, great pictures. An overall Training Tough right time FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL to anchor the story. A lot of in-depth reporting here. Great 3rd Place compelling and important package.“ Unique perspective. Great expression and Staff WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL composition. Allison Lee Isley section! Magic No. 500 SPORTS FEATURE WRITING The Fayetteville Observer Facebook Scott Sexton 2nd Place 2nd Place 2nd Place Wonderful emotion in this photo, well composed, 1st Place account Man’s recycling-bin casket draws tears, NEWS & RECORD CHARLOTTE OBSERVER SPORTS COLUMNS CHARLOTTE OBSERVER perfect depth of field ... love it Scott Fowler 1st Place CHARLOTTE OBSERVER laughter/more Taft Wireback 3rd Place John D. Simmons NEWS & RECORD Theoden Janes Impressive versatility in what he writes Taft Wireback - opiods The inside story of David Chadwick’s WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Happy New Year! 3rd Place sudden split with Forest Hill Church Ed Hardin Dale Jr. thought he’d have fun writing a about, a very good attribute for a In-depth package on a problem in a Staff CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Well-written, well-organized story - of a church split Ed Hardin sports columns - memoir. Then he relived his darkest days. columnist. As is his reader-friendly, segment of society readers might not be JournalNow.com accessible writing style. 3rd Place David T. Foster III that occurs due to a minister leaving.The story is thanksgiving, tarik, youth parents aware of. Sidebars really push the story to News & Record award-winning status. Eric Reid endures emotions, injury in well-sourced, being told through church leaders and Thanksgiving column separated this entry 2nd Place MAGAZINE OR NICHE Woody Marshall win over Texans church members, as well as through the minister at the from the rest of the pack. Everything a column WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL VIDEO Woody Marshall twilight fishing center of the controversy. Reader gains a good sense of 1st Place PUBLICATION 3rd Place Lovely moment, with the messages on the should be. Also loved the youth sports column. Patrick Ferlise the issues in the story. NEWS & OBSERVER 1st Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL uniforms a welcome “distraction” Catman II: Son aims to build on father’s Travis Long NEWS & OBSERVER Scott Sexton PHOTOGRAPHY, GENERAL 2nd Place legacy as biggest Panthers fan in the 3rd Place Undocumented man arrested after Staff Calling all cars NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY, SPOT NEWS & OBSERVER world CHARLOTTE OBSERVER leaving sanctuary to meet with WALTER June 2019 A well-written and engaging read showing 1st Place 1st Place Luke DeCock Tim Funk Same remarks apply to this issues as did for the great investigative chops. A story that WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL NEWS & RECORD Luke DeCock columns 3rd Place immigration officials Why hasn’t Charlotte Catholic diocese March issue. Thought this issue was overall stronger. should be copied! Walt Unks Khadejeh Nikouyeh Well-written with strong, informed CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Chilling first-hand footage of the reality of released list of priests accused of sex abuse? Cover’s photo does better job of grabbing the reader. Why Him? Why Him? Khadejeh Nikouyeh : After the fire opinions. Really well done. Theoden Janes immigration policing and how undocumented captures emotion on man perfectly Well-written story that provides a local angle on a story She could be the next Danica. But for now, immigrants are treated by officials. Eye- NEWS FEATURE WRITING of national and international importance. Balanced opening. Staggering. Disturbing. 2nd Place 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place she’s stuck driving an old Mazda mini SUV. NEWS & OBSERVER 2nd Place coverage and sourcing from the diocese as well as from CHARLOTTE OBSERVER WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL NEWS & RECORD victims’ rights organization. Writing flows well and 2nd Place Staff NEWS & OBSERVER Scott Fowler Scott Sexton Woody Marshall presents a clear view of the issue of sexual abuse in the SPORTS NEWS REPORTING CHARLOTTE OBSERVER WALTER March 2019 Travis Long Collection of sports columns: Scott Sign of the times? Holocaust survivor Woody Marshall protesters diocese and the reticence on the part of the church to 1st Place Matt Walsh, Stephanie Bunao Very well done magazine. Writing is good, design Mininum wage protest Fowler wants to make sure we never forget release the names of pedophile priests. NEWS & OBSERVER Brooklyn: How a black community was is attractive and photography is excellent. Offers Well-written and informative. At 3rd Place erased from uptown Charlotte lots to the reader from interesting story to great 3rd Place times felt more like feature stories than Dan Kane 2nd Place SERIOUS COLUMNS Powerful portrayal of the effects of urban renewal on “go and do” things. Great advertiser support. CHARLOTTE OBSERVER WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL columns. Could have used more personal NCAA rejected recommendations to 1st Place the black community in the Brooklyn neighborhood WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Jeff Siner Andrew Dye connection. halt academic fraud, newly released 3rd Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL -- and the lasting impression it’s made. Sarah Newell His life is not in vain Michael roars across Triad documents show NEWS & RECORD Breaking the silence: Sexual-assault Scott Sexton SPORTS COVERAGE 3rd Place Cindy Loman and Tim Myers survivor believes she got through the ordeal PROFILE FEATURE Taking a stand/Final salute/It’s time to PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTS 1st Place 1st Place 2nd Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL 1808: Greensboro’s Magazine Nov. 2018 for a reason talk Dixie 1st Place WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Ragan Robinson CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Sexton deftly turns a column into a Really like the design work in this issue. Very WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Sports staff Langston Wertz Jr. light and airy. Great use of white space. Lots of 3rd Place Theoden Janes powerful force for storytelling. Depth ‘They’re waiting for you to die.’ An Andrew Dye West Charlotte loses home court interesting features that are well-written and FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER 4 brothers, all WWII veterans, all in of reporting is impressive and lends an Sports coverage, Nov. 6/Nov. 7 2018 interview with Angela Beck advantage. Is it about race or too few illustrated by excellent photography. The fashion Michael Futch Within Reach their 90s: ‘We’re defying the odds, authoritative voice. Coverage is comprehensive over a variety of Harsh reality of the treatment of people inside The top choice in an incredibly tough category. sports with more of a local emphasis. seats? feature photo was a little jarring, but excellent. Fayetteville police chief’s 1935 death aren’t we?’ the U.S. prison system and the lack of healthcare Well done, publication. Great visual that tells a story on a lot of layers. and humanity they are given. A growing remains a mystery Crisp, good composition and a lot of fun to look at. 2nd Place problem that doesn’t get the coverage it deserves. 42 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 43

2019-ed-tab48_021620.indd 42-43 2/5/20 1:55 PM DIVISION O Online publications only 2019 / Editorial Excellence

APPEARANCE AND DESIGN BEAT NEWS REPORTING 3rd Place 3rd Place 3rd Place FEATURE WRITING ILLUSTRATION/PHOTO 2nd Place 1st Place 1st Place RICHMOND OBSERVER ISLAND FREE PRESS N.C. POLICY WATCH 1st Place ILLUSTRATION/PRINT OR ISLAND FREE PRESS COASTAL REVIEW ONLINE NC HEALTH NEWS William R. Toler Donna Barnett, Joy Crist Greg Childress ISLAND FREE PRESS INTERACTIVE GRAPHICS Kristin Hissong staff Greg Barnes McRaes open Richmond County’s first Community Coverage A series of articles on charter schools Joy Crist 1st Place A Beachcomber’s View column Hurricane Dorian’s approach, arrival What to do about aging sewer 24-hour daycare This is material of high utility to readers, by Greg Childress Coast Guard / St. Baldric’s stories CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS The layout flows nicely and it’s easy to systems in rural North Carolina? More 24-hr daycares should be available but several of the entries did not move This series of articles advances an good history to tie to present day action Frank Taylor MULTIMEDIA PROJECT beyond the materials supplied in press read. Nice use of photos and graphics in Great, in-depth reporting on an issue that effects throughout the US. important conversation about the along with quotes from participants. A time to shred 1st Place handouts. the copy, as well as embedded video. Those every single NC citizen. Obvious here that the regulation and oversight (or lack there of) COASTAL REVIEW ONLINE little details make a lot of difference. writer took the time to make the series impactful of charter schools and how communities 2nd Place CITY, COUNTY 2nd Place Jennifer Allen to every reader EDITORIALS should be wary of the promises of these OCRACOKE OBSERVER GOVERNMENT REPORTING CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS Regan: Dorian Highlights Need for 2nd Place 1st Place kinds of programs. Excellent reporting. Will Adams 1st Place Mariano Santillan Resilience CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS 2nd Place CAROLINA JOURNAL COASTAL REVIEW ONLINE Catching winter waves “Right away, this entry gives readers a Staff CAROLINA JOURNAL ELECTION/POLITICAL Seeking Conviction illustration Catherine Kozak Rick Henderson good read, flowed nicely, kept my interest sense of the enormity of the problem, Carolina Public Press appearance and Julie Havlak Confrontation Stirs Beach Access Editorials take on controversies in the REPORTING from video’s opening statements about the design Regulations keep North Carolinians 1st Place INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING Debate courtroom and the boardroom 3rd Place impact of climate change, the photo of the Very clean look. Nice use of white space. from getting Medicaid benefits Our editorialist knows a lot about N.C. POLICY WATCH OCRACOKE OBSERVER 1st Place buckled road, and the quote that breaches Very good, in-depth piece on a human CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS they’ve deserved interest story that affects go beyond NC. This politics in North Carolina — including Melissa Boughton Pat Garber could become permanent inlets, changing Staff ARTS AND The reporter puts a real face on a numbers story brings up many civil rights concerns, the revolving door of presidents and Coverage of N.C.’s District 9 bombshell Hyde County’s amazing civil rights the ecology. ENTERTAINMENT game being played in statehouses throughout etc. Writing style is very effective, very chancellors in the university system — Strong, straight-forward writing on a protest Seeking Conviction Links to extended ferry service, NC12, and uses that knowledge to advocate docs, drone pix on Twitter, etc. all made REPORTING the country. Solid, consistent reporting on a original story and including video coverage of significant and surprising turn of events. nice feature writing on a subject of you revealed that so much needed to difficult issue clearly for sensible solutions. First-rate Backgrounding was excellent. Any reader change in law enforcement, healthcare, this informative and useful to the reader 1st Place evidence was an added bonus. Great job! historical significance. thinking and writing. would know exactly what happened, even and in the courts for this problem to get on many levels.” COASTAL REVIEW ONLINE 3rd Place better. 2nd Place with no prior knowledge of these events. Jennifer Allen COASTAL REVIEW ONLINE 2nd Place GENERAL NEWS REPORTING 2nd Place LOCAL VOICE MEDIA Outstanding. Jazz Fest Marks 10th Year With State Jennifer Allen OCRACOKE OBSERVER 1st Place 2nd Place EDUCATIONNC Michael Praats Support Displaced, Derelict and Abandoned Peter Vankevich, Connie Leinbach 2nd Place CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS NC HEALTH NEWS Liz Bell Short-term rental ordinance appears Interesting story well told without trying Timely, well-sourced work Editorials on life on Ocracoke Island N.C. POLICY WATCH Kate Martin, Frank Taylor Greg Barnes Stories from the Education Pipeline to contradict state law too hard. “Not every issue worth writing about is Billy Ball Cody Henson case Uncovering industrial contaminants “The explanation of the entry (... 16% 2nd Place goes to Leland and Belville’s 30-year deep, deep, deep. Everyday life is worth Thorough coverage. of 9th graders complete degree ...) would BREAKING NEWS rivalry is key to understanding the complex Why N.C. Superintendent Mark in Pittsboro’s water 2nd Place writing about, too. Doing so also gives the be a good set up in the actual piece as COVERAGE H2GO case. Well put together, well researched Johnson’s new publicly-funded The opening sentence about the school COASTAL REVIEW ONLINE reader a sense of place, as the Observer’s 2nd Place intro to the videos. I only read it after I’d 1st Place and very well done. Very effective writing website may break the law water fountain was very powerful. Good editorialist does so effortlessly.“ CAROLINA JOURNAL looked over the entry. Jennifer Allen OCRACOKE OBSERVER style and approach. The background story was Good watchdog story on a political figure job investigating and writing. Videos were the focus of this collection; Plymouth Set to Celebrate Black Bears the key to taking this piece to the top. Great who perhaps is using public resources to Lindsay Marchello Connie Leinbach, Peter Vankevich text secondary. Martinez video context Thoughtful, detailed coverage. community interest story and good organization/ 3rd Place promote himself. Well backgrounded, House overrides budget veto in 3rd Place Hurricane Dorian swamps Ocracoke was aimless. The others were more layout of story line. Very well done. RICHMOND OBSERVER though I’d like to know more about the surprise morning vote N.C. POLICY WATCH Island; Village devastated compelling in context of their lives and . 3rd Place William R. Toler proposed use of the iPads. A strong story in a solid field of contenders. Comprehensive package that I’m sure Lisa Sorg Some excellent film work and editing.” NC HEALTH NEWS readers appreciated. 3rd Place Keep county clean; Third parties on Lisa Sorg’s investigation into elections boards; First responders 3rd Place 3rd Place Yen Duong CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS Aberdeen pesticide dumps 3rd Place training CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS ISLAND FREE PRESS R U OK Charlotte? 2nd Place Kirk Ross Good job explaining all the reasons why RICHMOND OBSERVER Frank Taylor Joy Crist Good look at an unlikely subject. NC HEALTH NEWS With town of Eureka drowning in the site was a poor decision. William R. Toler, Wally Reeves Gerrymandering ruling Opening of the Bonner Bridge Yen Duong, Taylor Knopf, Rose sewage bills, state takes control EDUCATION REPORTING Epicenter “Clear and concise writing on an Replacement BEAT FEATURE REPORTING Hoban Good human interest story and usage of 1st Place LEDE Interesting look at the metal culture important story.“ Well-rounded coverage with good graphics. 1st Place Mecklenburg among top focus quotes and photos. Writing style could be EDUCATIONNC 1st Place through a concert. COASTAL REVIEW ONLINE locations in Trump HIV plan improved upon. Originality of approach Analisa Sorrells NC HEALTH NEWS Trista Talton needs enhanced for more engagement. Education Data EMAIL NEWSLETTER HEADLINE WRITING Yen Duong Good job overall. NEWS ENTERPRISE Vibrio Survivor, Wife Warn of 3rd Place The depth of this reporting is impressive. 1st Place 1st Place Yen Duong’s ledes REPORTING NC HEALTH NEWS These pieces explain complex issues in a ISLAND FREE PRESS LOCAL VOICE MEDIA Bacteria’s Risks 1st Place Rose Hoban COMMUNITY COVERAGE way that is easy to understand for the Donna Barnett, Meg Phillips Michael Praats Great personal story 2nd Place CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS ‘Abortion Survivors’ bill gets 1st Place audience. This is exceptional work. Island Free Press Weekly News Update Sun’s out, buns out: Carolina Beach NC HEALTH NEWS Kate Martin 2nd Place emotional hearing at NCGA BLOWING ROCK NEWS Looks like it would be very effective and a council removes ‘buttocks’ from Anne Blythe Sexual assault case lags NC HEALTH NEWS David Rogers, Josh Jarman 2nd Place great benefit to subsribers indecent exposure law Anne Blythe’s ledes Taylor Knopf BUSINESS WRITING Variety of Blowing Rock Life CAROLINA JOURNAL One great headline Covers this story! 2nd Place Animals and mental health recovery 1st Place Clever lead on the gravity car race and Lindsay Marchello 2nd Place 3rd Place NC HEALTH NEWS CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS excellent depth of context, particularly Leandro lawsuit, now 25 years old, EDUCATIONNC 2nd Place in the Merlefest story. This reporter gives NC HEALTH NEWS Thomas Goldsmith 3rd Place Neil Cotiaux continues to vex educators Nation Hahn NC HEALTH NEWS Greg Barnes readers the meat, not just bare bones. This story does a nice job of Personal needs allowance is NC HEALTH NEWS Hospital purchase drives change for Awake58 Taylor Knopf Greg Barnes ledes contextualizing current politics within inadequate for residents’ needs Yen Duong multiple local health foundations Lessons from Abroad - headlines 2nd Place the scope of previous court decisions. Good job Hospital! 3rd Place Making the connection:From what, to 9/17/2019 NC’s first recovery high LOCAL VOICE MEDIA Where it could improve is demonstrating LIGHTER COLUMNS EDUCATIONNC who to why to how to when and where. I 3rd Place school opens in Charlotte Michael Praats the impact of those court decisions on the 1st Place Liz Bell want to read this series. NC HEALTH NEWS 2nd Place ‘We should strive to be more like current climate. COASTAL REVIEW ONLINE BLOWING ROCK NEWS Early Bird Thomas Goldsmith Charleston … less like Myrtle Beach’ Sam Bland David Rogers 3rd Place Millions in fund, earmarked to A good concise summary of a citizen OCRACOKE OBSERVER Sam’s Field Notes improve nursing home care, sits Business Matters crusade that worked. Lesser reporters Connie Leinbach mostly unused Good job. Excellent piece about staying might be tempted to overdo it, but this one step ahead of the competition, and story is right-size. Nest knitters needed now beating others on business. Truly alliterative!

44 North Carolina Press Association 2019 Annual Awards 45

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NEWS FEATURE WRITING 3rd Place PHOTOGRAPHY, SPOT SERIOUS COLUMNS 3rd Place USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS VIDEO 1st Place ISLAND FREE PRESS 1st Place 1st Place RICHMOND OBSERVER 1st Place 1st Place COASTAL REVIEW ONLINE Don Bowers OCRACOKE OBSERVER N.C. POLICY WATCH Kyle Pillar BLOWING ROCK NEWS EDUCATIONNC Mark Hibbs Community Bridge Day in Pictures Connie Leinbach Billy Ball Former players remember Coach David Rogers, Hannah Beaver Robert Kinlaw The Case of the Conserved Land Debris removal begins on Ocracoke; Three columns by Billy Ball Thomas Baucom as ‘fatherly’ and a Adding value with photography We Drive It PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTS nighttime curfew still in place Excellent writing: to explain, to implore. ‘great coach’ Outstanding video in all aspects. 2nd Place 1st Place I feel this photo epitomizes this category. To incite! Regardless of topic, the craft USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA Thoroughly explains topic with student CAROLINA JOURNAL OCRACOKE OBSERVER Good clear shot. No way this was is exceptionally served with these SPORTS NEWS 1st Place and staff interviews, creative shooting provocatively persuasive columns. angles and creation, compliments written Kari Travis, Lindsay Marchello planned. ISLAND FREE PRESS Casey Robertson REPORTING story well. A cloudy state of transparency They did it! Dolphins capture middle Donna Barnett 2nd Place 2nd Place 1st Place school baseball tourney Island Free Press’ Facebook page OCRACOKE OBSERVER CAROLINA JOURNAL BLOWING ROCK NEWS 2nd Place 3rd Place Keen eye of the photographer to capture Lots of interaction with the community John Trump David Rogers RICHMOND OBSERVER CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS such a remarkable shot. Creative, Peter Vankevich accomplishes the “social” part of social Thriller in Columbia William R. Toler Summer Ocracoke beauties: Black Contentious political debates in N.C. media. Kate Martin, Imari Scarbrough outstanding inclusion of design elements First place almost by default. The boxing Skimmers affect real people Guest joins Richmond County officers NC working to erase biggest rape kit and provides a feeling of suspense/tells analogy worked early but went too far. Photographer obviously has a lot of A refreshing collection of reporter-based in Special Olympics torch run backlog in nation story in single frame. The basic facts were all there but felt as if 2nd Place experience shooting birds in flight. observations on relevant community/ Clear and steady shots. Fun and the story was trying too hard to impress. N.C. POLICY WATCH Beautiful photo. Very Sharp. What a lens. state issues. These columns discuss and interesting shooting angles. Additional 2nd Place Still, best of the bunch in this category. Melissa Boughton PHOTO PAGE OR ESSAY BLOWING ROCK NEWS enlighten readers via personal narration, information such as distance, who was 1st Place hard facts, and collection of human Melissa Boughton’s use of social running, etc. would have improved video. Craig Weston 3rd Place ISLAND FREE PRESS sources. 2nd Place media App State survives OCRACOKE OBSERVER Don Bowers, Jenni Koontz RICHMOND OBSERVER 3rd Place Outstanding series of photos with strong Peter Vankevich 3rd Place Kyle Pillar NC HEALTH NEWS Hurricane Dorian in Pictures separation of subject and background. Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird ISLAND FREE PRESS Young closes RSHS coaching career 3rd Place Photos are great – show the devastation Count ends the year Taylor Knopf Joy Crist for new ‘challenge’ COASTAL REVIEW ONLINE caused by the hurricane. Photo is not the highest quality. Most Why I went to Europe to learn about 3rd Place Written well enough, but it’s not Staff likely was taken from a distance. Still an Serious columns the American drug crisis BLOWING ROCK NEWS compelling. Was there some behind-the- awesome occurrence. Good focus on relevant community issues Coastal Review Online Social Media Compelling topic. Draws viewer into rest PHOTOGRAPHY, FEATURE David Rogers scenes reason for the coach leaving? Story with writing style that emits a personal of series. 1st Place David Rogers lays out the basics but reads like a press LOCAL VOICE MEDIA connection (and commitment) to/with Great action shots. Best photo of series PROFILE FEATURE readers. release. Mark Darrough is image of No. 5 near sideline. Strong 1st Place In Pictures: Operation Steel Pike 19, composition. Quality hindered slightly by EDUCATIONNC SPORTS COVERAGE largest air assault exercise on east focus on background/things other than Robert Kinlaw 1st Place coast in a decade the subject. How a Principal of the Year runs a BLOWING ROCK NEWS your photos made me feel as if I was in school the middle of the action PHOTOGRAPHY, SPORTS David Rogers, Bill Barbour FEATURE Sports Coverage - March 2019 2nd Place Only entry in this category so, first place! 2nd Place 1st Place BLOWING ROCK NEWS CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS Not bad but room for improvement in BLOWING ROCK NEWS David Rogers writing. Particularly, the Inside Job story, Melissa Sue Gerrits CONGRATULATIONS David Rogers Jim Ruff, Photographer the lead is horribly cluttered including the CONGRATULATIONS Brunswick County images CONGRATULATIONS Upset minded Mountaineers jump teams’ records before we get to the final TRAVIS BUMGARDNER your photos enhanced the story past Tar Heels 3rd Place score. Get the most important information 1st Place General Excellence for Websites Compelling sense of being close to the COASTAL REVIEW ONLINE (final score) in the lede and add the other HOLLY KAYS 3rd Place action, with good variety of choices Catherine Kozak stuff later. 1st Place Arts and Entertainment Reporting NC HEALTH NEWS highlighting the game’s drama. Focused Retired Outer Banks Historian Tells 1st Place News Feature Writing and well-cropped (not as common as you’d Sports Feature Writing 2nd Place Investigative Reporting Taylor Knopf His Story Lessons from Abroad - photo entry think). 1st Place 3rd Place Investigative Reporting 3rd Place News Feature Writing photos enhance the story RICHMOND OBSERVER 2nd Place RELIGION & FAITH Kyle Pillar SUSANNA SHETLEY PHOTOGRAPHY, BLOWING ROCK NEWS REPORTING Newest Raider Malik Covington sees 1st Place Lighter Columns GENERAL NEWS David Rogers 1st Place ‘dream come true’ by scoring in spring STAFF Slam Dunk OCRACOKE OBSERVER 2nd Place Community Coverage 1st Place practice finale Good use of angles, light and cropping Peter Vankevich JESSIE STONE ISLAND FREE PRESS Good lead-in to an inspirational story TO OUR produces arresting stop-action shots and New United Methodist pastor: ‘Come 2nd Place Business Writing Don Bowers about a kid having fun and cashing in some gritty close-ups as well. walk with me’ on a “dream.” Enjoyed the use of multiple 2nd Place City, County Government Reporting Dorian storm coverage sources to tell a heartwarming story. 3rd Place Beat Feature Reporting STAFF Photos capture not only the damage but 3rd Place Business Writing 3rd Place 2nd Place the human spirit to prevail. Great work. 3rd Place News Enterprise Reporting STAFF LOCAL VOICE MEDIA BLOWING ROCK NEWS 2nd Place STAFF 2019 Johanna Ferebee David Rogers ISLAND FREE PRESS CORY VAILLANCOURT News, Editorial & 2nd Place 1st Place City, County Government Reporting News, Editorial Catch pro skaters dropping in on a Joy Crist CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS Men of God 1st Place Education Reporting vert ramp in a Navassa backyard Worrell Race Returns to Hatteras Contest Matt Rose 1st Place Election/Political Reporting Contest Some excellent action shots capture the Island 2nd Place Beat Feature Reporting Photojournalism Thursday meal at The Giving Spoon energy of the events, but overall could 2nd Place News Feature Writing of Bryson City have used more culling and cropping. 2nd Place Religion & Faith Reporting GREAT PHOTOS bring out the human 3rd Place Election/Political Reporting spirit of the issue in the story. Good work. COVERING HAYWOOD, JACKSON, GARRET K. WOODWARD MACON & SWAIN COUNTIES 3rd Place Arts and Entertainment Reporting

46 North Carolina Press Association

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