Central City News Sweeps Many Top Awards At Louisiana Press Association Convention

MARKSVILLE — The Central City News won some of community journalism’s top awards Saturday at the 132nd Annual Convention of the Louisiana Press Association, which represents more than 110 daily and weekly newspapers across the state.  The Baton Rouge Advocate was the top award winner among large daily newspapers.

Central City News editor Woody Jenkins represented the newspaper at the event.  Judging this year was by editors from the Georgia Press Association.  Some of the awards won by the Central City News were:

News/Editorial

• 1st Place, Best Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event — “Election Coverage 2011” and “City of Central Privatization” — Judges’ comments: “There are few better things a newspaper can provide its readers than really good local coverage of people seeking public office.  The Central City News did a great job keeping its readers in the loop on campaigning, bickering and all, candidate positions, and election results.  Citizens in this community would be hard-pressed to say they didn’t have good information available to help them make informed decisions at the polls.”  “The Central City News had the unenviable task of covering local government while at the same time fighting on behalf of citizens to get information about how that government was doing its job.  One of those tasks is hard enough.  Doing both means the newspaper is shouldering a huge responsibility to safeguard the public’s right to know.  Readers of this newspaper and citizens of this community should know how well served they are.”

• 1st Place, Best Front Page

Judges’ comments: “Excellent layout, design, photography, and news with emphasis on local content, nice modern layout, good use of fonts, would like a little more white space, great color.”

• 1st Place, Best News Story — “IBTS Low Bidder” by Woody Jenkins.

Judges’ comments: “This one is in a class by itself.  Hard-hitting, fact-filled, and thorough.  Anything readers want to or should know about the topic is in here.  A great example of journalism as a public service.  This is an excellent paper: Newsy, punchy, readable, and thorough, with appealing layout and graphics — and print quality my paper can only dream of.”

• 2nd Place, Best News Story — “Heartbreak Highway” by Woody Jenkins.

Judges’ comments: “Brought tears to my eyes.  You really make the reader feel the loss of this young man but also provide the facts.”

• 1st Place, Best Regular Column — Country Living in the City by Woody Jenkins

• 2nd Place, Best News Coverage

• 1st Place, Best Investigative Reporting — “BREC”

• 3rd Place, Best News Photo — “Zach Evans Game-Winning TD Against St. Paul’s” by Woody Jenkins

• 1st Place, Best Photo Package — “Central Tops East Feliciana” by Woody Jenkins

• 3rd Place, Best Special Section — “Graduation 2011” by Central City News staff

Advertising Design

• 1st Place, Best Ad Campaign — Oak Point by Woody Jenkins

• 1st Place, Best Staff-Generated Color Ad — Lancaster House by Terrie Palmer

Judges’ comments: “Extremely appealing design… Simple but also shows variety of merchandise.”

• 2nd Place, Best Staff-Generated Color Ad — Edna’s Market by Terrie Palmer

Judges’ comments: “Good layout, effective use of white space, typography.  Makes me want to go and eat there right away!”

• 2nd Place, Best Staff-Generated Black & White Ad — Large Oak Trees by Terrie Palmer

• 1st Place, Best Multiple Advertiser Page — Central Wildcat Football by Terrie Palmer

• 1st Place, Best Services Non-Retail Ad — Crossroads Animal Hospital by Terrie Palmer

Judges’ comments: “Very clean and classy, effective use of white space.”

The Central City News will compete at the National Newspaper Association in September.