The Gazette nets 34 awards in Arkansas journalism contests
Texarkana Gazette staff won 34 awards in two recent Arkansas journalism competitions, including eight first-place awards.
In the Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors contest, the Gazette, competing in the high-circulation daily division, won 21 awards.
Emily Sanders took first in Political Reporting for a story about the controversy behind the so-called “bathroom” ordinance in Texarkana, Ark.
Josh Richert took first in Sports Column Writing for a piece about the curious actions of an umpire during a Texas High playoff game.
Joshua Boucher took first in Feature Photography for a photo at the Hope Watermelon Festival. A judge said, “This was a beautiful shot that showed almost-love between a boy and his watermelon. The facial capture carried this to the top.”
Kristen Doss took first in Graphics for her Medicare hospital ratings graphic and historical locator map for a story on the 70th anniversary of the Midnight Murders in Texarkana.
Andrea Miller, Danielle Dupree and Jason Hopkins shared first place in the Page Design category. Their three-page entry included a sports cover featuring former Liberty-Eylau track standout Jarrion Lawson and his push for an Olympic medal, and front pages about the 70th anniversary of the infamous Texarkana serial murders and another featuring one man’s trip to a Santa Claus convention called “Santified.”
The Gazette took second place in General Excellence, finishing behind the state’s largest newspaper the Arkansas DemocratGazette.
Second-place awards were garnered by Russell McDermott for Editorial Writing, Hard-News Column Writing and Lifestyle Column Writing; Lynn LaRowe for Business Reporting; Aaron Brand for Education Reporting; Richert for Sports Column Writing; and Doss for the Digital edition.
Third-place awards went to Drew Gladden for Headline Writing; Karl Richter for Beat Reporting; Junius Stone for Business Reporting; Jennifer Middleton for Education Reporting; Les Minor for Special Project/Community Service and Hard-News Column Writing; Brian Tyl for Sports Column Writing; and Jerry Habraken for Photographer’s Portfolio.
The Gazette sports writers swept all three places in the Sports Column Writing category.
Arkansas Press Association The Gazette won 13 awards, including three first-place plaques, in the Arkansas Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.
Results were announced recently at the group’s summer convention in Little Rock. Members of the Oklahoma Press Association judged entries.
First-place awards went to Doss for Best Web Site, Middleton and Brand for Coverage of Education and Richert for a Sports Column Writing.
Judges commented that Doss’ winning entry was a “very nice homepage layout.” Middleton’s stories were about bullying, and Brand’s story was about a hip-hop artist teaching creative writing in the classroom.
Richert’s entry was “Ump should get bumped,” with a judge saying, “I felt like I was there watching it. Great opinions from the writer.”
Second-place awards went to Gladden for Headline Writing; Habraken for Picture Page/ Photo Essay; Miller and Dupree for Best Front Page; Neil Abeles for Freelance Writing; LaRowe, Stone and Jim Williamson for coverage of Business/ Agriculture; and Brand and Sanders for Coverage of Tourism.
Habraken’s photo essay was a series of portraits titled “What does Black History Month mean to me?”
Third-place awards were presented to Minor for Humorous Column Writing; Evan Lewis for Feature Photography; and Hopkins for Best Sports Page.
Boucher received an honorable mention in the Sports Action Photo category.