CANAAN VALLEY - The West Virginia Press Association named the Charleston Gazette-Mail the state's Newspaper of the Year on Saturday.
The association announced the results of its annual newspaper contest during its convention at Canaan Valley Resort in Tucker County over the weekend.
The honor came after both the paper's news and advertising departments earned first-place awards for excellence among West Virginia's larger newspapers.
The Gazette-Mail news staff took home 14 first-place awards, following judging by members of the Maryland, Delaware and D.C. press association.
First-place awards went to:
n Eric Eyre, best in-depth or investigative reporting.
n Rob Byers, best news columnist.
n Dawn Miller, Kelly Merritt, best editorial pages.
n Ryan Quinn, best news feature.
n Chris Atkins, best front page.
n Mitch Vingle, best sports columnist.
n Andrew Brown, Sam Owens, best business, economic or labor reporting.
n Sam Owens, best photo essay.
n Rick Ryan, best sports news reporting.
n Life & Style staff, best lifestyle page(s).
n Sports staff, best sports special section.
n Sports staff, best sports page(s).
n Gazette-Mail staff, best coverage of breaking news.
n Gazette-Mail staff, service to the community.
The Gazette-Mail also picked up nine second-place awards and five third-place awards.
Second place: James Haught, best news columnist; Elaina Sauber, best in-depth or investigative reporting; Sports staff, best sports special section; Eric Eyre, David Gutman, best governmental affairs reporting; Linda Arnold, best lifestyle columnist; Chris Atkins, best headline writing; Sam Owens, best sports photography; Erin Beck, best news feature; Kate White, best legal affairs reporting.
Third place: Kevin Cade, best illustration, cartoon or graphic; Andrew Brown, best news feature; Andrew Brown, David Gutman, best in-depth or investigative reporting; F. Brian Ferguson, best feature photography; Mike Casazza, best sports news reporting.
The ad staff brought home eight first-place awards, four second-place awards and six third-place finishes.
First-place ad awards were granted in the following categories: Staff, best theme page(s) - retail; Elizabeth Pabst, best single black and white ad; Elizabeth Pabst, best house ad; Staff, best classified section; Elizabeth Pabst, Adam Howell, best online motion ad; Kathy Baker, best single newspaper online promotion; Staff, best special section - sports; Staff, best online static ad.
Second-place ad awards: Ashley Mann, best process color ad - half page or less; Elizabeth Pabst, best process color ad - larger than a half page; Staff, best classified display ad; Ashley Mann, best single newspaper online promotion
Third-place ad awards: The Manahan Group, best agency ad; Elizabeth Pabst, best process color ad - half page or less; Staff, best progress edition; Elizabeth Pabst, Adam Howell, best online motion ad; Staff, best special section - sports; Staff, best theme page(s) - classifieds.
- Staff reports