The Shepherdstown Chronicle and The Journal exceed expectations at WVPA convention
CHARLESTON — Both the Shepherdstown Chronicle and The Journal were thrilled to be recognized in multiple categories of newspaper excellence at the West Virginia Press Association’s annual convention. The event, hosted in Charleston by WVPA, brought together newspaper personnel from around the state who had submitted entries to the advertising and editorial contests held each year.
The WVPA conducted business meetings and educational seminars along with the advertising awards and editorial awards luncheons held at the Four Points by Sheraton Friday and Saturday.
The Chronicle secured the General Excellence Award in Division IV, the highest award given per division. In addition, the Chronicle staff received over 20 first, second or third place awards for entries submitted for the 2023 calendar year.
“The Shepherdstown Chronicle winning the ‘General Excellence’ award in our division is the highest honor we could expect and we are forever grateful for the West Virginia Press Association and judges recognizing our hard work,” said Trevor Evans, general manager.
In addition to the awards earned by The Chronicle, The Journal staff brought home more than 20 first, second and third place awards as well as second place for General Excellence in Division II.
“I am proud of the Journal and Shepherdstown Chronicle editorial staff as they have worked hard for these editorial awards,” Evans said.
Newspapers across the state are divided into divisions based on circulation. There are four divisions with like papers competing against each other. The Journal falls into Division II, while the Shepherdstown Chronicle is in Division IV. Entries are judged each year by another state press association. This year, the judges were from the North Dakota Newspaper Association, said Stella Gill, WV Press coordinator of special events. Points are awarded for each winning entry and the newspaper with the most points in each division wins the General Excellence award. General Excellence awards are given for both Editorial and Advertising divisions. Neither the Journal nor the Chronicle submitted entries to the advertising competition this year. The newspaper with the highest number of points across both competitions–editorial and advertising combined–earns recognition as Newspaper of the Year. The 2024 recipient was The Inter-Mountain, in Elkins.
Awards for the Journal in 2024 included:
1st place–Toni Milbourne, best legal affairs reporting
1st place–Bob O’Connor, best news columnist
1st place–Andrew Spellman, best sports columnist
1st place–Rick Kozlowski, best sports event reporting
1st place–Rick Kozlowski, best sports news & feature reporting
1st place–Journal sports/design staff, best sports pages
1st place–Journal sports/design staff, best sports special section
1st place–Journal editorial/design staff, best editorial page
1st place–Rick Kozlowski, best news photograph
1st place–Journal editorial/design staff, best newspaper design
2nd place–Toni Milbourne, best governmental affairs reporting
2nd place–Rick Kozlowski, best sports columnist
2nd place–Rick Kozlowski, best sports event reporting
2nd place–Journal sports/design staff, best sports pages
2nd place–Toni Milbourne, best lifestyles feature
2nd place–Ainsley Hall, best news photograph
2nd place–Journal editorial/design staff, best single issue
3rd place–Toni Milbourne, best governmental affairs reporting
3rd place–Rick Kozlowski, best sports event reporting
3rd place–Toni Milbourne, best editorial
3rd place–Toni Milbourne, best feature photography
Chronicle awards included:
1st place–Tabitha Johnston, best reporting generated from public notice
1st place–Tabitha Johnston, best in-depth or investigative reporting
1st place–Tabitha Johnston, best news feature
1st place–John Doyle, best news columnist
1st place–Bob Madison, best sports columnist
1st place–Kristi Hendricks, best lifestyle column
1st place–Tabitha Johnston, best editorial
1st place–Tabitha Johnston, beat feature photography
1st place–Tabitha Johnston, best photo essay
1st place–Tabitha Johnston, best photographer/videographer
2nd place–Tabitha Johnston, best in-depth or investigative reporting
2nd place–Tabitha Johnston, best governmental affairs reporting
2nd place–Tabitha Johnston, best news feature
2nd place–Tabitha Johnston, best lifestyles feature
2nd place–Tabitha Johnston, best headline writing
2nd place–Tabitha Johnston, best feature photography
2nd place–Tabitha Johnston, best news photography
3rd place–Tabitha Johnston, best governmental affairs reporting
3rd place–Tabitha Johnston, best lifestyles feature
3rd place–Tabitha Johnston, best feature photography
3rd place–David Pennock, best photo essay
The newspapers recognized for general excellence in editorial coverage in 2024 included Division I (dailies over 16,000 circulation), The Register-Herald; Division II (dailies under 16,000 circulation), The Inter-Mountain; Division III, (weeklies over 4,000 circulation), The Hampshire Review and Division IV (weeklies under 4,000 circulation), The Shepherdstown Chronicle.
In the Advertising division, the General Excellence awards went to The Herald Dispatch in Division I; The Inter-Mountain in Division II; The Spirit of Jefferson in Division III and The Weston Democrat in Division IV.