2020 NCPA Editorial and Advertising Awards 

Posted

Contact: Philip Lucey, NCPA Executive Director. phil@ncpress.com

Friday, February 26, 2021
NCPA Virtual Convention

(Raleigh, NC) North Carolina Press Association members were honored during the 148th annual convention held virtually due to Covid-19 protocols and made available to NCPA members on Friday February 26, 2021. NCPA’s editorial and advertising contest is one of the largest in the nation with over 4,000 entries submitted by more than 100 newspapers and news organizations. Judging was completed by members of the West Virginia Press Association. Awards cover a contest period of October 2019-September 2020.  A list of categories and rules can be found at www.ncpress.com. For a full list of winners visit www.ncpress.com

Division A

 

The Anson Record wins four awards: two 3rd place in and two 2nd place awards in editorial categories. 

The Ashe Post and Times wins five awards: two 3rd place, two 2nd and one 1st place in advertising categories. 

The Avery Journal Times wins three awards: two 3rd place and one 1st place in editorial categories. 

The Bertie Ledger Advance wins six awards: one 3rd place in editorial categories and two 3rd place, one 2nd place and two first place in advertising categories. 

The Blowing Rocket wins one first place in editorial categories.  

The Cherokee One Feather wins 21 awards: One third place, 10 second place and six first place in editorial categories and one third place and three 1st place in advertising categories. 

The Cherokee Scout wins 12 awards: Four third place, Five second place, and three first place in editorial categories. 

The Chowan Herald wins 8 awards: Three third place, two second place, and three first place in editorial categories. 

The Clemmons Courier wins one second place award in editorial categories. 

The Crossroads Chronicle wins 9 awards: two third place and one second place in editorial categories and one third place, three second place and two first place in advertising categories. 

The Elkin Tribune wins 7 awards: three third place, and one second place in advertising categories and one second place and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Graham Star wins 5 awards: three third place and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Hendersonville Lightning wins 5 awards: two third place, one second place and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Highlander wins 11 awards: one second place in editorial categories and three second place and seven first place awards in advertising categories. 

The Johnstonian News wins 6 awards: two third place, two second place, and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer wins 4 awards: one third place, one second place, and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Mebane Enterprise wins one third place in editorial categories. 

The Mount Olive Tribune wins one third place in editorial categories. 

The News-Journal wins seven awards: two third place, two second place, and two first place in editorial categories. 

The North State Journal wins 19 awards: four third place, seven second place, and nine first place in editorial categories. 

The Perquimans Weekly wins 3 awards: one second place and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Smoky Mountain Times wins 10 awards: four third place, four second place, and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Spring Hope Enterprise wins 4 awards: one third place, one second place and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Yadkin Ripple wins 5 awards: two third place, one second place, and two first place in advertising categories. 




Division B

The Alamance News wins 4 awards: two third place, one second place and one first place in editorial categories. 

The Bladen Journal wins 7 awards: one third place, four second place, and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Brunswick Beacon wins 5 awards: one third place and 4 first place in editorial categories. 

The Butner-Creedmoor News wins 8 awards: five third place and three second place in editorial categories. 

The Chatham News & Record wins 24 awards: six third place, six second place and eleven first place in editorial categories and one first place in advertising categories. 

The Courier-Times wins 11 awards: three third place, one second place, and one first place in editorial categories and three second place and three first place in advertising categories. 

The Davie County Enterprise-Record wins 3 awards: one third place and two second place in editorial categories. 

The Martin County Enterprise & Weekly Herald wins 5 awards: one third place, two second place and two first place in editorial categories. 

The News of Orange County wins 3 awards: two second place and once first place in editorial categories. 

The News-Record & Sentinel wins one third place in editorial categories. 

The Oxford Public Ledger wins one first place in editorial categories. 

The Queen City Nerve wins 5 awards: two second place and three first place in editorial categories. 

The State Port Pilot wins 56 awards: 12 third place, 11 second place and 10 first place in advertising categories and 3 third place, 10 second place, and 10 first place in editorial categories. 

The Stokes News wins 4 awards: one third place and one second place in editorial categories and one second place and one first place in advertising categories. 

The Sylva Herald and Ruralite wins 5 awards: two third place, and three second place in editorial categories. 

The Triangle Business Journal wins one third place in editorial categories. 

The Up & Coming Weekly wins 3 awards: one third place and one second place in advertising categories and one first place in editorial categories. 

The Wake Weekly wins 7 awards: four third place, one second place and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Watauga Democrat wins 7 awards: three third place, one second place and one first place in editorial categories and one second place and one first place in advertising categories. 

The Winston-Salem Chronicle wins 2 awards: one third place and one first place in editorial categories. 

Division C: 

The 27587 Magazine wins 4 awards: one third place, one second place and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Carteret County News-Times wins one third place in editorial categories. 

The Enquirer Journal wins 2 awards: one third place and one second place in editorial categories. 

The Franklin Press wins 6 awards: three second place and three first place in editorial categories. 

The Herald Citizen wins one third place in editorial categories. 

The Independent Tribune wins 4 awards: two third place and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Indy Week wins 8 awards: one third place, one second place, and six first place in editorial categories. 

The Mountain Xpress wins 7 awards: one second place and two first place in editorial categories and one third place and three second place in advertising categories. 

The Mountaineer Wins 7 awards: four second place and three first place in editorial categories. 

The News Reporter wins 14 awards: four third place, five second place and five first place in editorial categories. 

The Outer Banks Milepost wins 7 awards: four second place and three first place in editorial categories. 

The Pilot wins 40 awards: eight third place, seven second place and nine first place in advertising categories and three third place, nine second place and four first place in editorial categories. 

The Roanoke-Chowan News Herald wins 3 awards: one third place, one second place and one first place in editorial categories. 

The RockinghamNow wins 3 awards: one third place, one second place and one first place in editorial categories. 

The Smoky Mountain News wins 22 awards: 13 third place, three second place and six first place in editorial categories. 

The Stanly News & Press wins 5 awards: four third place and one first place in editorial categories. 

The Wilkes Journal-Patriot wins 4 awards: two third place, one second place, and one first place in editorial categories. 

The Yes! Weekly wins 21 awards: four third place, four second place, and five first place in advertising categories and four third place, three second place, and one first place in editorial categories. 





Division D: 

The Courier-Tribune wins 4 awards: two third place, one second place and one first place in editorial categories. 

The Daily Advance wins 6 awards: one third place, three second place and one first place in advertising categories and one first place in editorial categories. 

The Daily Herald inws 3 awards: one third place, one second place and one first place in editorial categories. 

The Jacksonville Daily News wins 8 awards: one third place in advertising categories and one third place, four second place, and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Daily Record wins 13 awards: one third place, one second place and two first place in editorial categories and four second place and five first place in advertising categories. 

The Dispatch wins three third place awards in editorial categories. 

The Kinston Free Press wins 9 awards: two third place, one second place, and two first place in advertising categories and two third place and two second place in editorial categories. 

The Gaston Gazette wins 6 awards: one third place, four second place and one first place in editorial categories. 

The Goldsboro News-Argus wins one third place award in editorial categories. 

The Hickory Daily Record wins 9 awards: two third place, four second place, and 

three first place in editorial categories. 

The High Point Enterprise wins 24 awards: three third place, three second place, and two first place in advertising categories and three third place, five second place and eight first place in editorial categories. 

The Mount Airy News wins 16 awards: three third place, four second place, and six first place in advertising categories and one third place and two second place in editorial categories. 

The News Herald wins 6 awards: four third place, one second place and one first place in editorial categories. 

The Lenoir News-Topic wins 2 awards: one third place and one first place in editorial categories. 

The Richmond County Daily Journal wins two second place awards in editorial categories. 

The Robesonian wins 2 awards: one third place and one second place in advertising categories. 

The Rocky Mount Telegram wins three third place awards in editorial categories. 

The Shelby Star wins 5 awards: one third place, one second place and three first place in editorial categories. 

The Sun Journal wins 16 awards: one third place and one second place in advertising categories and six third place, four second place and four first place in editorial categories. 

The Burlington Times News wins 3 awards: one second place and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Henderson Times-News wins 4 awards: two third place, one second place and one first place in editorial categories. 

The Washington Daily News 6 awards: two third place, one second place, and three first place in editorial categories. 

The Wilson Times wins 18 awards: three third place, six second place and nine first place awards in editorial categories. 



Division E: 

The Asheville Citizen-Times wins 14 awards: seven third place, four second place and three first place in editorial categories. 

The Daily Reflector wins 23 awards: two third place, five second place and seven first place in advertising categories and three third place, two second place and four first place in editorial categories. 

The Fayetteville Observer wins 20 awards: nine third place, six second place and five first place in editorial categories. 

The Herald-Sun wins 18 awards: six third place, eight second place, and four first place in editorial categories. 

The Salisbury Post wins 17 awards: four third place, six second place and seven first place in editorial categories. 

The StarNews wins 40 awards: nine third place, 14 second place, and 17 first place in editorial categories. 





Division F: 

The Charlotte Observer wins 29 awards: eight third place, eight second place, and 13 first place in editorial categories. 

The News & Observer wins 35 awards: ten third place awards, eleven second place and fourteen first place in editorial categories.

The News & Record wins 18 awards: six third place, eight second place and four first place in editorial categories. 

The Winston-Salem Journal wins 36 awards: fifteen third place, twelve second place, and nine  first place in editorial categories. 



Division O: 

The Bladen Online wins 15 awards: two third place, four second place and two first place in editorial categories and one second place and six first place in advertising categories. 

The Blowing Rock News wins 12 awards: four third place, two second place and six first place in editorial categories. 

The Carolina Journal wins 5 awards: two third place, two second place and one first place in editorial categories. 

The Carolina Public Press wins 7 awards: two third place, four second place and one first place in editorial categories. 

The Coastal Review Online wins 5 awards: two third place, one second place and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Education NC wins 8 awards: three third place, three second place, and two first place in editorial categories. 

The Island Free Press wins 19 awards: one third place, two second place and two first place in advertising categories and three third place, six second place, and five first place in editorial categories. 

The Local Voice Media wins 7 awards: two second place, and five first place in editorial categories. 

The N.C. Policy Watch wins 7 awards: four second place, and three first place in editorial categories. 

The NC Health News wins 13 awards: eight third place  and five first place in editorial categories. 

NewOldNorth.com wins 5 awards: one third place, one second place and three first place in editorial categories. 

The Ocracoke Observer wins 4 awards: one third place and three second place in editorial categories. 

The Richmond Observer wins 11 awards: three third place, four second place, and four first place in editorial categories. 

The NC Insider wins one first place award in editorial categories. 



special awards for the NCPA 2020 contest

The Henry Lee Weathers Freedom of Information Award honors journalists or newspapers for exceptional work in advancing or upholding the cause of Freedom of Information. It also recognizes excellence in reporting about access to government-held information and the First Amendment.  Awards are given in community, daily and online divisions.  This award is sponsored by the Associated Press. 

For community newspapers:   Miles Layton of the Perquimans Weekly. Judges comment:  This is a great example of using the press to protect readers' and taxpayers' interests and holding public officials' feet to the fire. It was nice to see that some oversights unearthed by the paper resulted in positive and forward-thinking change for the town.

In the daily division:   the Staff of the News & Observer for While you were sleeping: North Carolina legislators restrict access to public records.  Judges comment:  These reports represent true watchdog journalism -- keeping a close eye on those in power and holding them accountable to the public when things, such as this statehouse bill, don't seem quite right. Calling attention to SB 168 also resulted in the protection of important public records.

And in the online division:  the Staff of Carolina Public Press for Nursing home outbreak transparency judges comment:  This collection of reports from Carolina Public Press goes a long way toward explaining to readers, in simple language minus any PR spin, what is known and not known about what's happening in long-term care facilities. The successes these reporters achieved shines a light on specific areas of concern, revealed through records requests. 



Our next award recognizes stories based on the publication of a public notice.

Keeping public notices in print – where the public expects to see them – has been a major advocacy effort of ours for years. So it’s with great enthusiasm that we actually recognize stories that remind us how important these notices are to our communities and readers.


For coverage on USDA redacts info about secretive Chatham County poultry farm, Lisa Sorg of NC Policy Watch.  Judges comment:  Great job of digging into a story that likely wouldn't have seen the light of day but for this effort. Thorough and relevant. 

Public Service awards.   Awards are given in community, daily and online divisions. 

In the community newspapers division the award goes to the Staff of the Mountaineer 

In the daily division The Staff of the Winston-Salem Journal for coverage of rising violence in Winston-Salem. 

And in the online division for changing minds on climate science the Coastal Review Online. 

This award honors Hugh Morton, the owner of Grandfather Mountain who is best known for his passion for photography. Hugh Morton helped start the NC Photographers Association, and his pictures have appeared in Time, Life and National Geographic magazine as well as in countless newspapers. 

The award, sponsored by Mountain Times Publications in Boone, recognizes a photographer’s body of work for the contest year. It is the most prestigious photography award we give.

Our Hugh Morton Photographer of the Year in the Community Newspaper Division from the OuterBanks Milepost, Daniel Pullen


Our Hugh Morton Photographer of the Year in the Daily Newspaper Division from the Winston-Salem Journal, Andrew Dye

Next with special thanks to the NC Bar Association we present this year’s Media & Law awards.

Best Community newspaper Article Kristy Bailey of the Alamance News 

Best Daily newspaper Article  Olivia Neeley of The Wilson Times 

Best online article  Mark Hibbs of Coastal Review Online

All publications, Best Series goes to Virginia Bridges of the Herald-Sun

Sponsored by METRO Creative Graphics each year we present a sweepstakes award for the most points won across all advertising categories.  This year’s winners are:  

Highlander, in Division A

State Port Pilot, in  Division B

Pilot, in Division C

Mount Airy News, in  Division D

Daily Reflector, in  Division E

and 

BladenOnline in  Division O

In the Community Division A.

General Excellence for websites 

3rd place Cherokee Scout 

2nd place      Cherokee One Feather

1st place  Hendersonville Lightning

Overall General Excellence

3rd place Cherokee One Feather 

2nd place Spring Hope Enterprise 

1st place North State Journal 



In the Community newspapers division B

General Excellence for websites 

3rd place Watauga Democrat

2nd place Bladen Journal 

1st place Chatham News & Record 

Overall General Excellence

3rd place Triangle Business Journal 

2nd place Chatham News & Record

1st place State Port Pilot

In Community Division C
General Excellence for websites 

3rd place The News Reporter

2nd place Smoky Mountain News 

1st place The Mountaineer 

Overall General Excellence

3rd place Stanly News & Press 

2nd place Smoky Mountain News 

1st place The Pilot 


general excellence in online-only organizations:

website only 

3rd place Coastal Review Online 

2nd place Carolina Public Press 

1st place Ocracoke Observer 

Overall general excellence 

3rd place Blowing Rock News 

2nd place Coastal Review Online 

1st place Carolina Public Press



In Division D, 

General Excellence for websites 

3rd place Shelby Star 

2nd place Richmond County Daily Journal 

1st place Washington Daily News 

Overall General Excellence

3rd place Wilson Times 

2nd place Goldsboro News-Argus 

1st place Washington Daily News 

In Division E

General Excellence for websites 

3rd place StarNews 

2nd place Salisbury Post 

1st place The Herald-Sun 

Overall General Excellence

3rd place Fayetteville Observer 

2nd place The Herald-Sun

1st place StarNews



In Division, F, 

General Excellence for websites 

3rd place Charlotte Observer 

2nd place Winston-Salem Journal 

1st place News & Observer 

 

Overall General Excellence

3rd place Winston-Salem Journal 

2nd place News & Observer 

1st place Charlotte Observer 

 



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