Congrats to APW Board Member Kristin Netterstrom for her third place in the APME awards for beat reporting!
HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Batesville Daily Guard and The Daily Citizen of Searcy won the sweepstakes and general excellence awards for their respective divisions in the 2011 Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors contest.
The winners were announced Saturday at the group’s annual meeting at the Red Apple Inn in Heber Springs. The contest was judged by the AP-member editors in Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota.
The state’s daily newspapers competed in 26 categories in three different circulation-based divisions. The sweepstakes awards are determined through a points system for each first-, second- and third-place finish in the other categories, with the most points awarded to the winners of the General Excellence category.
The “Jonesboro Sun” also received the Mark Twain Award, which is given to the member newspaper that has contributed the most toward the success of the Arkansas AP report in the past year.
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SMALLER DAILY NEWSPAPERS
Sweepstakes Award Winner: The Daily Citizen, Searcy
General Excellence: 1, The Daily Citizen, Searcy; 2, Blytheville Courier News; 3, Camden News.
Service to Freedom of Information: 1, Jacob Brower, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, OEM Report; 2, Mark Brasfield, Blytheville Courier News, IRS seeking money from Harrison; 3, Shannon Spears Harris, Blytheville Courier News, Tax helps county compete.
Spot News Photo: 1, Lori Crawford, Stuttgart Daily Leader, Jumper talked down; 2, Kendall Owens, Times-Herald, Forrest City, Bomb investigation; 3, Aaron Morris, Banner-News, Magnolia, Captured.
Feature Photo: 1, Steven Lovell, The Saline Courier, Benton, Bishop Park; 2, Aaron Morris, Banner-News, Magnolia, Fair Finale; 3, Aaron Morris, Banner-News, Magnolia, Spirit of Christmas.
Spot Sports Photo: 1, Aaron Morris, Banner-News, Magnolia, Muleriders play; 2, Stephanie Fischer, Stuttgart Daily Leader, Defense steals show; 3, Aaron Morris, Banner-News, Magnolia, Getting off the ground.
Feature Sports Photo: 1, Mary Brown, Camden News, Emotional entrance; 2, Fred Conley, Times-Herald, Forrest City, Got the look; 3, Fred Conley, Times-Herald, Forrest City, Future Mustang.
Photographer’s Portfolio: 1, Aaron Morris, Banner-News, Magnolia; 2, Lori Crawford, Stuttgart Daily Leader; 3, Molly M. Fleming, The Daily Citizen, Searcy.
Spot News Story: 1, Jamie Davis, Banner-News, Magnolia, SAU Horse Theft; 2, Alan Smith, Times-Herald, Forrest City, Bus driver leaves students; 3, Kendall Owens, Times-Herald, Forrest City, Homemade bomb explodes.
News Feature: 1, Shannon Spears Harris, Blytheville Courier News, The ‘dream’; 2, Dixie Edington, Banner-News, Magnolia, Remembering Brittni Pater; 3, Alan Smith, Times-Herald, Forrest City, Celebrating a century of life.
Column-Hard News: 1, Stephanie Fischer, Stuttgart Daily Leader, Giving Credit; 2, Jacob Brower, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Send help, prayers to Joplin; 3, Jacob Brower, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, History, for better or for worse.
Column_Lifestyle-Human Interest: 1, Shannon Spears Harris, Blytheville Courier News, Billing al-Qaida; 2, Shannon Spears Harris, Blytheville Courier News, Readers theater for a Sunday; 3, Brent Davis, The Saline Courier, Benton, Everything can change.
Non-Traditional News Item: 1, Marisa Lytle, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, When I grow up; 2, Shannon Spears Harris, Blytheville Courier News, A day on Main Street; 3, Jacob Brower, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Who will earn the V-I-C-T-O-R-Y?
Editorial Writing: 1, Jacob Brower, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Community spirit; 2, Jamie Davis, Banner-News, Magnolia, Hindsight vs. foresight; 3, Jacob Brower, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Silencing free speech.
Sports Story: 1, Kelly Blair, Camden News, Beat the heat; 2, William Korff, Banner-News, Magnolia, Thornton goes active; 3, Aaron FitzPatrick, Blytheville Courier News, Tiger cruise into semifinals.
Sports Feature: 1, Fred Conley, Times-Herald, Forrest City, PW Champions; 2, Kyle Troutman, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Author Takes in Harding Tradition; 3, Chris Gilliam, Banner-News, Magnolia, Coach knew about winning.
Sports Column: 1, Aaron FitzPatrick, Blytheville Courier News, Tournament rain; 2, Eric Moore, Malvern Daily Record, What is in a name; 3, Tony Lenahan, The Saline Courier, Benton, Walks kill Travelers.
Headline: 1, Jacob Brower, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Principal Tied Up; 2, Jim Edwards, Camden News, Heat and air code steams alderman; 3, Staff, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Ice in drink sinks illegal alien’s case.
Page Design: 1, Wendy Jones, Marisa Lytle, Jacob Brower, The Daily Citizen, Searcy; 2, Lori Crawford, Stuttgart Daily Leader; 3, Andy Weld, Blytheville Courier News.
News Coverage: 1, Staff, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, End of an era; 2, Tammy Frazier, Camden News, Events honor King; 3, Staff, Times-Herald, Forrest City, February 10 weather coverage.
Special Project-Community Service: 1, Bill Shrum, Stuttgart Daily Leader, One woman’s story; 2, Jamie Davis, Banner-News, Magnolia, Disappearance of Mary Jimmie ‘Bobo’ Shinn; 3, Staff, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Think Pink.
Graphics: 1, Jacob Brower, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Harding enrollment; 2, Jacob Brower, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Readers rooting for Green Bay; 3, Jacob Brower, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Census shows population shift.
Health-Related Topics: 1, Kendall Owens, Times-Herald, Forrest City, Testing flood water; 2, Matt Burks, The Saline Courier, Benton, Tons of medication collected; 3, David Nichol, Times-Herald, Forrest City, 10-year-old hailed as hero.
Beat Reporting: 1, Matt Burks, Lynda Hollenbeck, The Saline Courier, Benton, Traskwood Murders; 2, Marisa Lytle, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Agriculture/outdoors reporting; 3, Mark Brasfield, Blytheville Courier News, IRS stories.
Education Reporting: 1, Sarah Morris, Stuttgart Daily Leader, Teacher mentoring; 2, Tammy Frazier, Camden News, Smoke alarm mission; 3, Molly M. Fleming, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, State seeking NCLB waiver.
Business Reporting: 1, Shannon Spears Harris, Blytheville Courier News, County has jobs; 2, Marisa Lytle, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Pecans see increase in crop, prices; 3, Tamara Johnson, Times-Herald, Forrest City, Sanyo employees losing jobs.
Political Reporting: 1, Molly M. Fleming, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Route Concerns; 2, Marisa Lytle, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, State mulls health options; 3, Molly M. Fleming, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Governor pushes northern route.
Website: 1, Staff, The Daily Citizen, Searcy, TheDailyCitizen.com; 2, Leigh Kreimeier, Staff, Stuttgart Daily Leader, StuttgartDailyLeader.com; 3, Staff, Blytheville Courier News, BlythevilleCN.com.
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MEDIUM-SIZED DAILY NEWSPAPERS
Sweepstakes Award Winner: Batesville Daily Guard.
General Excellence: 1, Batesville Daily Guard; 2, Log Cabin Democrat; 3, Harrison Daily Times.
Service to Freedom of Information: 1, Frank Wallis, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, QC discusses budget; 2, Lacy Mitchell, Batesville Daily Guard, Hiring prompts dispute over FOIA; 3, Rick Fahr, Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Meetings.
Spot News Photo: 1, Courtney Spradlin, Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Building Collapse; 2, David Holsted, Harrison Daily Times, 2 hurt; 6 vehicles damaged; 3, Michael Orrell, El Dorado News-Times, Lookin’ for hot spots.
Feature Photo: 1, Becky Harris, Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Valentine Peek; 2, Michael Orrell, El Dorado News-Times, Something Sweet; 3, Kevin Pieper, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Having a heat wave!
Spot Sports Photo: 1, Michael Orrell, El Dorado News-Times, Battle in the Box; 2, Brandon Cone, Harrison Daily Times, East, West split All-Star contests; 3, Paul Glover, Batesville Daily Guard, Batesville Atlas.
Feature Sports: 1, Kevin Pieper, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, BROstock; 2, Michael Orrell, El Dorado News-Times, Up in the Air 3, Paul Glover, Batesville Daily Guard, No Shortage of Fun.
Photographer’s Portfolio: 1, Kevin Pieper, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home; 2, Courtney Spradlin, Log Cabin Democrat, Conway; 3, Josh Dooley, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home.
Spot News Story: 1, Linda Hicks, Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Vilonia Tornado; 2, Andrea Bruner, Batesville Daily Guard, Tornado strikes Oil Trough; 3, Josh Dooley, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Phantom Pilot becomes local hero.
News Feature: 1, Josh Dooley, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Things that go bump; 2, Wilf Schultheis, Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Surviving the storm; 3, Frank Wallis, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Encounter with Bigfoot.
Column-Hard News: 1, Josh Dooley, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Hey PETA; 2, Phil Lamb, Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Opposing the death penalty; 3, Rick Fahr, Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, A problem too close to home.
Column-Lifestyle-Human Interest: 1, Andrea Bruner, Batesville Daily Guard, Home for Pooch; 2, Lacy Mitchell, Batesville Daily Guard, Twisted; 3, David Holsted, Harrison Daily Times, Absolutely revere American history.
Non-Traditional News Item: 1, David Holsted, Harrison Daily Times, Haunted Hotel; 2, Staff, Batesville Daily Guard, April Fools; 3, Jeff Brasel, Harrison Daily Times, Tommy Tice – Reflections on 28 years.
Editorial Writing: 1, Phil Lamb, Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, UCA misses mark; 2, Chris Qualls, El Dorado News-Times, Serving up a varied menu; 3, Thomas Garrett, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Confidence lacking in administration of ASUMH.
Sports Story: 1, Paul Glover, Batesville Daily Guard, Lions want to run; 2, Paul Glover, Batesville Daily Guard, White Hall brings 9-game win streak; 3, Paul Glover, Batesville Daily Guard, Relaxed Le-Lemon team up Classic title.
Sports Feature: 1, Jeff Brasel, Harrison Daily Times, Shipp-Northark; 2, Scott McDonald, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Hughes moving on to Cave City; 3, Brandon Cone, Harrison Daily Times, Harrison’s George makes time for golf.
Sports Column: 1, David McCullum, Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Team Support; 2, Jeff Brasel, Harrison Daily Times, Brasel: How much is a win worth?; 3, David McCullum, Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Paterno’s inaction poisons goodwill.
Headline: 1, Christopher Willis, Batesville Daily Guard, Struggling ot erad; 2, Andrea Bruner, Batesville Daily Guard, Meacham Packing it in; 3, David Holsted, Harrison Daily Times, Naming sons easy for Omaha family.
Page Design: 1, Greg Jelinek, Linda Masters, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Bring Home Bacon; 2, Josh Phillips, Harrison Daily Times, Snow disaster for Newton County; 3, Chris Qualls, El Dorado News-Times.
News Coverage: 1, Staff, Batesville Daily Guard, 2011 ten years after; 2, Linda Hicks, Log Cabin Democrat, Vilonia Tornado; 3, Staff, The Baxter Bulletin, Snowmageddon snarls roads.
Special Project-Community Service: 1, Staff, Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Community Christmas Card Fundraiser; 2, Staff, Batesville Daily Guard, Women in Business; 3, Andrea Bruner, Batesville Daily Guard, Two Littles, one Big difference.
Graphics: No places awarded.
Health-Related Topics: 1, Janet Nelson, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Family finds hope; 2, Donetta Sterling, Batesville Daily Guard, Harmonica Man’ comforts patients; 3, Frank Wallis, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, BRMC finances improve.
Beat Reporting: 1, Josh Dooley, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Verizon drops charge; 2, Frank Wallis, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Flood plan; 3, Josh Dooley, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Animal abuse case.
Education Reporting: 1, Lacy Mitchell, Batesville Daily Guard, Every 15 minutes …; 2, Courtney Spradlin, Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, UCA president out, Courtway interim; 3, Josh Dooley, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, YS hopes to exit financial distress.
Business Reporting: 1, Becky Harris, Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Justices-Shale; 2, Andrea Bruner, Batesville Daily Guard, Milk man retires; 3, Donna Braymer, Harrison Daily Times, UNFI to close doors.
Political Reporting: 1, Frank Wallis, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Sheriff-Tax; 2, Josh Dooley, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Mayor: ‘I was wrong’; 3, James L. White, Harrison Daily Times, Crockett says recall no surprise.
Website: 1, Staff, The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, BaxterBulletin.com; 2, Staff, Batesville Daily Guard, GuardOnline.com; No third place awarded.
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LARGEST DAILY NEWSPAPERS
Sweepstakes Award Winner: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
General Excellence: 1, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; 2, Texarkana Gazette; 3, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs.
Service to Freedom of Information: 1, Debra Hale-Shelton, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, A kingdom for a house; 2, C.S. Murphy, Chad Day, Ferris Williams, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, One deadly night; 3, Debra Hale-Shelton, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, UCA International Program problems.
Spot News Photo: 1, Richard Rasmussen, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Apartment Fire; 2, Rick McFarland, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Robbery suspect flees; 3, Richard Rasmussen, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Tornado Confirmed.
Feature Photo: 1, Richard Rasmussen, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Full of hot air; 2, Rick McFarland, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Unwanted attention; 3, Stephen B. Thornton, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Sprucing up the staircase.
Spot Sports Photo: 1, Michael Woods, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Bo Bigham argues…; 2, Saundra Sovick, The Jonesboro Sun, Eye opener; 3, Richard Rasmussen, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Safe at home.
Feature Sports Photo: 1, Richard Rasmussen, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Morning stroll; 2, Adam Sacasa, Texarkana Gazette, Watch your step; 3, Benjamin Krain, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville’s Calli Berna.
Photographer’s Portfolio: 1, Rick McFarland, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; 2, Benjamin Krain, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; 3, Saundra Sovick, The Jonesboro Sun.
Spot News Story: 1, Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Tornado kills 3; 2, Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Night of storms kills 7; 3, Jim Williamson, Texarkana Gazette, Woman’s body found.
News Feature: 1, George Jared, The Jonesboro Sun, Fighting for life; 2, Debra Hale-Shelton, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, ‘A Semi-Normal Life’; 3, Brandy Chewning, Texarkana Gazette, Cost of dying.
Column-Hard News: 1, Paul Greenberg, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, The herd; 2, Roy Ockert, The Jonesboro Sun, First ASU chancellor overcame skepticism; 3, Melinda Gassaway, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, What are GOBs, GOGs up to now?
Column-Lifestyle-Human Interest: 1, Paul Greenberg, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, I loved that boy; 2, Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, I was a tabloid journalist; 3, Tina Dale, Southwest Times Record, Fort Smith, Aunt Mary Lived Up to Sign’s Message.
Non-Traditional News Item: 1, Brian Smith, The Jonesboro Sun, Favorite movie; 2, Dusty Higgins, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Freeze energy waste; 3, Waylon Harris, The Jonesboro Sun, Reflections on a decade.
Editorial Writing: 1, Melinda Gassaway, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Tourism ‘joke’; 2, Paul Greenberg, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Picky, picky; 3, Ethel Channon, Texarkana Gazette, Own Up.
Sports Story: 1, Bob Wisener, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Kentucky Derby; 2, Matthew V. Roberson, The Jonesboro Sun, Red Wolves whip MTSU; 3, Bob Holt, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Hogs hire basketball coach Anderson.
Sports Feature: 1, Matthew Harris, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, ASU’s deep Freeze; 2, Bob Wisener, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, The voice rests; 3, Sean Saunders, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Meet Fountain Lake’s sporting guy.
Sports Column: 1, Wally Hall, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Clarke eyes Hollywood; 2, Bob Wisener, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Rematch? Deal with it, America; 3, Louie Avery, Texarkana Gazette, Hit-and-miss.
Headline: 1, Brandy Chewning, Texarkana Gazette, Old-time revision; 2, Melinda Gassaway, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Justice prevails at the polls; 3, Jeff Krupsaw, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Blackened Friday.
Page Design: 1, Chris Swindle, Kellie Cobb, The Jonesboro Sun, Art of the quilt; 2, Jason Hopkins, Andrea Miller, Texarkana Gazette; 3, Mark Gregory, Jennifer Shinn, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs.
News Coverage: 1, Staff, Southwest Times Record, Fort Smith, 1996 Tornado; 2, Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, West Memphis 3 coverage; 3, Staff, The Sentinel-Record, Storms tear through Garland County.
Special Project-Community Service: 1, Cathy Frye, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Boys of Fall; 2, Charlie Frago, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Holes emerge in Katrina vow; 3, Sun Staff, The Jonesboro Sun, Outlook 2011 Winds of Change.
Graphics: 1, Dusty Higgins, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, The eight boat; 2, Kirk Montgomery, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Injection wells and earthquakes; 3, Dusty Higgins, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville Shale.
Health-Related Topics: 1, George Jared, The Jonesboro Sun, Diabetes struggle; 2, Charlie Frago, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Dentists set to see Medicaid changes; 3, Ashley Gardner, Texarkana Gazette, Lyme disease.
Beat Reporting: 1, Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, State pensions; 2, Lynn LaRowe, Texarkana Gazette, Fuel cans dangerous; 3, Chad Day, Kristin Netterstrom, Bobby Ampezzan, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas and the Census.
Education Reporting: 1, Marie Martin, Texarkana Gazette, TC faces deficit; 2, Mary L. Crider, Southwest Times Record, Fort Smith, More Children Participate; No third place awarded.
Business Reporting: 1, Eric Nicholson, Texarkana Gazette, Peach preserves; 2, Kristie Avery, Texarkana Gazette, Coal emissions; 3, Curt Hodges, The Jonesboro Sun, Downsize upswing.
Political Reporting: 1, Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Capitol letters; 2, Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Treasurer’s election-cash data wrong; 3, Don Thomason, The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Mayor questions parade figures.
Website: 1, Online Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, ArkansasOnline.com; 2, Staff, The Jonesboro Sun, JonesboroSun.com; 3, Staff, Texarkana Gazette, TexarkanaGazette.com.