2022 NCPA Editorial and Advertising Awards

Posted

2022 NCPA Editorial and Advertising Awards 

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

For Immediate Release 

Thursday, August 25, 2022 

(Raleigh, NC) North Carolina Press Association members were honored for excellence in news and advertising coverage during the 149th annual convention held in Raleigh on Thursday, August 25, 2022. NCPA’s advertising and editorial contest is one of the largest in the nation with over 4,000 entries submitted by more than 125 newspapers and news organizations. 

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. Tom Boney, Jr. and staff from Alamance News, Dan Kane, Kate Murphy and Martha Quillin from the News & Observer, and Greg Barnes, and Bill Kirby Jr. from CityView TODAY, were recognized as the best in their respective divisions for this award. 

The Hugh Morton Photographer of the year award recognizes a photographer's body of work for the contest year and is the most prestigious photography award we give. This year the Judges from Iowa Press Association recognized Bob Karp from 27587 Magazine, Khadejeh Nikouyeh from the Charlotte Observer and Ken Fine from NewOldNorth.com. 

The Duke University/Green-Rossiter Award for Distinguished Newspaper Work in Higher Education recognized Sara Pequeño from Indy Week for her work on Nikole Hannah-Jones’ experience with UNC Emblematic of Struggle for Black women in Academia. Kate Murphy, Martha Quillin, and Lucille Sherman from the News & Observer were recognized for their coverage of North Carolina’s universities. Joe Killian from N.C Policy Watch was recognized for his coverage on political pressure in higher education. 

Perquimans Weekly, State Port Pilot, Smoky Mountain News, Goldsboro News-Argus and the Daily Reflector were recognized as the top winners in their respective divisions for the Advertising Sweepstakes award sponsored by Metro Creative Graphics. 

A list of categories and rules can be found at ncpress.com. For a full list of winners, visit www.ncpress.com 

2021-22 NCPA Editorial and Advertising awards by Division 

Division A 

Avery Journal Times A total of four awards to Henry Volk, Marisa Mecke and Neal Falvey

Bertie Ledger-Advance Two awards to Andre' Alfred 

Black Mountain News  One first place award in advertising to Marilyn Parnell and staff 

Blowing Rocket Two awards to David Rogers and Kevin Lumpkin

Charlotte Post  Five awards go to Herbert L. White, Ashley Mahoney, Hadiya Presswood, Aaliyah Bowden and Melba Newsome

Cherokee One Feather A total of twelve awards go to Robert Jumper, Scott Brings Plenty and Jonah Lossiah

Cherokee Scout  Twelve awards go to David Brown, Justin Fitzgerald, Abigail Hickman, Penny Ray, Anngee Quinones-Belian, Jared Putnam and staff 

Chowan Herald  Two advertising awards go to Bev Alexander and staff 

Clemmons Courier  Two editorial awards to Jim Buice 

Elkin Tribune  Five awards go to Holly Lamm, Darla Allen, Dawn Bagale, Aaron Eaton, Abby Ellis, Kitsey Burns Harrison and staff 

Graham Star   Four awards for Kitsey Burns Harrison, Art Miller, and Kevin Hensley

Hendersonville Lightning Four awards to newly elected NCPA president Bill Moss and Matt Matteson. 

Highlander Six awards tonight for Christopher Lugo and Staff

Johnstonian News Six awards go to Scott Bolejack and Staff

Martin County Enterprise & Weekly Herald Two awards for Deborah Griffin and Staff

Mount Olive Tribune -  Ginger Carroll , Emily Weaver ,Rudy Coggins and the staff are recognized for seven awards.

News of Orange County   Two editorial awards for Dale Edwards

News-Journal   One award goes to Ken MacDonald 

News-Record & Sentinel One advertising award for Karen Ingraham and  Marilyn Parnell

North State Journal 19 total awards to Heath Hamacher, PJ Ward-Brown, Shawn Krest, Brett Friedlander, Cory Lavalette, Lauren Rose, and  Matt Mercer

Perquimans Weekly  Five advertising awards to Bev Alexander and Staff 

Richmond County Daily Journal  Two editorial awards go to Neel Madhavan

RockinghamNow Four awards for Susie Spear 

Smoky Mountain Times   One editorial award to Hannah Styles

Spring Hope Enterprise Four awards go to Staff, Lindell Kay and Ken Ripley

Watauga Democrat Eight awards for Ian Taylor, Kayla Lasure, Moss Brennan, Marisa Mecke  and Staff 

Yadkin Ripple  Three advertising awards go to Holly Lamm, Dawn Bagale, Amanda Cooke’ Serena Bowman, and Katelyn Goins

Division B

Alamance News    Six awards go to Kristy Bailey, Tomas Murawski, Tom Boney, Jr. and staff 

Ashe Post & Times     One award in advertising to Teresa Roark-Laws and  Brian Hodges

Brunswick Beacon      Four awards in total to Christy Williamson, Laura Lewis and  Staff

Chatham News & Record     29 awards to Taylor Heeden, Victoria Johnson,  Bill Horner III, D. Lars Dolder, Hannah McClellan, Victor Hensley, Chip Pate, Kim Hawks, Peyton Sickles, Victoria Johnson, Chapel Fowler, John McCann, and Taylor Heeden

Coastland Times   Ten awards for Theresa Schneider, Hannah Russ, Summer Stevens and Staff

Courier-Times  Five awards to Ginger Carroll, Kelly Snow and  George Willoughby

Daily Dispatch   Three awards for Ray Gronberg, David Irvine and Brandon White

Daily Herald  Ten total awards go to Rhonda Irby, Justin Hayes,Richard Holm and staff 

Davie County Enterprise-Record  Four awards total to Ray Tutterow and Mike Barnhardt

Denver Citizen  One advertising award to Ashlie DeCaron,and  Leslie Thomas

Enquirer-Journal   Three awards to Holly Morgan, and Jeremy Vernon

Franklin Press Five total awards to Liz Birolin, Stan Polanski and Staff

Lake Norman Citizen  Four awards for Ashlie DeCaron, Cindy Dorman, Mandy Thornton, Kelly Wright and  Staff

News Reporter   Eight awards go to Diana Matthews, Grant Merritt, Ivey Schofield

Thomas Sherrill, Justin Smith, Franklin Davis, Les High,Rocky McPherson and  Staff

Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald   Three awards for Cal Bryant  

Robesonian  Three advertising awards for Brandy Bridges, Melody Evans and Cristal Graham and one editorial award for Chris Stiles 

Stanly News & Press   One editorial award for B.J. Drye

State Port Pilot  A total of 32 advertising and editorial awards go to Linda Lash, Mindy Ellinger, Carol Magnani, Joey Robinson, Ben Frazier, Eliot Duke, Lee Hinnant, Morgan Harper, John L. Cardillo, Michael Paul, Gary Pethe, Michael Paul, Fred Ammann and Staff

Stokes News  One editorial award to the Staff of Stokes News 

Tryon Daily Bulletin  One editorial award to Leah Justice

Up & Coming Weekly  A total of 7 awards to Dylan Hooker and Kathleen Ramsey

Washington Daily News  Four awards for Karen Thiel, Ashley Vansant, Steve Barnes and Staff

Wilkes Journal-Patriot  Eight editorial awards to Jule Hubbard, and  Marty McGee

Division C

27587 Magazine  Six awards to Bob Bogert, Bob Karp and Philip M. Read Jr.

Carteret County News-Times  One award to JJ Smith 

Charlotte Business Journal   Four awards go to Ashley Fahey, Erik Spanberg, Liz O'Connell, Jennifer Thomas, Collin Huguley and Melissa Key

Daily Record   Eight awards to Ginger Carroll, Emily Weaver, Thomas Honeycutt, Donnell Coley and staff 

Independent Tribune  One first place award to Jemal Horton 

Indy Week  Six awards go to Brian Howe, Leigh Tauss, Thomasi McDonald, Sarah Edwards, Lena Geller and  Jasmine Gallup

Mooresville Citizen   Three awards for Mandy Thornton, Kelly Wright, Ashlie DeCaron, Melissa Spinelli and Elizabeth Durocher

Mount Airy News   Ten advertising and editorial awards for Regenia Grant, Serena Bowman, Donna Thomas, Bob Ward, Aaron Eaton, Cory Smith and staff 

Mountain Xpress Six awards for Scott Southwick, Olivia Urban, Jessica Wakeman, Daniel Walton, Edwin Arnaudin and Staff

Mountaineer    Five awards for Becky Johnson, Vicki Hyatt,  Jan George, and Jack Snyder

Outer Banks Milepost   Seven awards go to Jesse Davis, Biff Jennings, M. Leigh Ward, Ryan Moser and Staff

The Pilot    29 advertising and editorial awards go to Scott Yancey, Jennie Acklin, Emily Jolly, Jessica Galloway, Mechelle Butler, Kathy Desmond, Erika Leap, Terry Hartsell, Scott Yancey, Samantha Cunningham, Karen Triplett, David Woronoff, John Nagy, Lorelei Colbert, Timothy L. Hale, Deborah Salomon, Ayn-Monique Klahre, Laura P. Wall,  Jonathan Bym, Jaymie Baxley, Ted Fitzgerald, Deborah Salomon, Abbi Overfelt and staff 

Queen City Nerve  Four awards go to Ryan Pitkin, Nikolai Mather, and Pat Moran

Salisbury Post   13 Awards for Carl Blankenship, Ben Stansell, Mike London, Natalie Anderson, Josh Bergeron, and Staff

Smoky Mountain News   a total of 33 advertising and editorial awards go to Amanda Bradly, Micah McClure, Greg Boothroyd, Jessica Murray, Sophia Burleigh, Holly Kays, Hannah McLeod, Cory Vaillancourt, Susanna Shetley, Michael Gouge, Garret K. Woodward, Scott McLeod, and staff 

Triad City Beat  Two editorial awards to James Douglas 

Triangle Business Journal  Three editorial awards to Lauren Ohnesorge, Zac Ezzone, Connie Gentry, and Sougata Mukherjee, Wilson Times  23 total awards go to Lisa Boykin Batts, Olivia Neeley, Drew C. Wilson, Corey Friedman, Drew C. Wilson, Olivia Neeley, Jaksa Gabric, Paul Durham, Casea Bunn, Brie Handgraaf and staff 

YES!  Weekly   Ten awards go to Alex Farmer, Austin Kindley and staff 

Division O 

Asheville Watchdog A total of two awards to Sally Kestin and Peter Lewis 

Axios  Charlotte  Five awards go to Michael Graff, Emma Way, Danielle Chemtob, Laura Barrero, Katie Peralta Soloff and Symphony Webber

Border Belt Independent  Nine awards go to Sarah Nagem, Ivey Schofield, Les High,  Keem Grady, and Kevin Maurer

Cardinal & Pine   Nine awards for  Billy Ball, Emiene Wright, Michael McElroy, Sarah Ovaska, and Shaun Sindelman

Carolina Journal   Nine awards go to Dallas Woodhouse, Mitch Kokai, Greg de Deugd, Donna King, Jim Stirling, Theresa Opeka, Maya Reagan and staff 

Carolina Public Press  13 awards for Jordan Wilkie, Laura Lee, Anna Deen, Mark Darrough, Jodi Helmer, Kate Martin, Mark Darrough, Jodi Helmer, Mariano Santillan and Staff

CityView TODAY  One editorial award to Anthony Wooten 

Coastal Review   six awards for Jennifer Allen, Dylan Ray, Mark Hibbs, Trista Talton and  Staff

Davidson Local News  two awards going to James Kiefer and Sidney Briggs

Island Free Press   seven awards for Donna Barnett, Rory Kelleher, Joy Crist, Don Bowers, and Kristin Hissong

N.C. Policy Watch    three awards for Lisa Sorg, Greg Childress and Rob Schofield

NC Health News  16 award go to Anne Blythe, Greg Barnes, Taylor Knopf, Rose Hoban, Hannah Critchfield,, Shelbi Polk, Clarissa Donnelly-DeRoven, Melba Newsome, Mariama Jallow, Clarissa Donnelly-DeRoven and staff 

NewOldNorth.com     3 awards go to Ken Fine, Shan Stumpf, and Renee Carey  

Ocracoke Observer     4  awards for Richard Taylor, Peter Vankevich, and Connie Leinbach

Port City Daily     4 awards go to Shea Carver, Alexandria Sands adn Johanna Still

Richmond Observer   13 awards for William R. Toler  and Kyle Pillar

The Rant   six awards going to Gordon Anderson, and  Billy Liggett


Division D

Courier-Tribune with one editorial award to Rachel Berry and Michelle Sten. 

Daily Advance 12 awards going to Rachel Berry, Michelle Shen, Lisa Bailey and Creative Staff, Rich Houghton, Reggie Ponder, Julian Eure and Chris Day 

Daily News (Jacksonville)    5 awards for Chris Miller, Trevor Dunnell and  Jennifer Rich

Fayetteville Observer   36 total awards going to Jacob Pucci, Akira Kyles, Paul Woolverton, Kristen Johnson, F.T. Norton, Fred Clasen-Kelly, William Ramsey, Andrew Craft, Myron B. Pitts, David Thompson, Chapel Fowler, Danielle Dreilinger, Rachael Riley, Monica Holland, Rodd Baxley and staff 

Goldsboro News-Argus   10 awards for Larry Vickers, Becky Barclay and Staff

Herald-Sun    16 awards go to Charlie Innis, Julian Shen-Berro, Drew Jackson, Martha Quillin, Casey Toth, Avi Bajpai, Zachery Eanes, Brooke Cain,  Martha Quillin, Chip Alexander, Casey Toth, Andrew Carter and Staff

Hickory Daily Record   13 awards for Kevin Griffin, Sarah C. Johnson, Robert C. Reed, Kevin Griffin, Virginia Annable and Staff

High Point Enterprise   22 awards for Sandy Southards, Amanda Duncan, Roger Boyd, Jimmy Tomlin, Guy Lucas, Laura Greene, Michael Lindsay, Paul B. Johnson, Laura Greene and the Enterprise sports staff

McDowell News   One editorial award goes to Scott Hollifield

Morganton News Herald   7 awards for Chrissy Murphy,  Sharon McBrayer and Staff

Rocky Mount Telegram  one editorial award goes to William F. West

Sanford Herald  3 advertising awards for Jeff Ayers, and  Laura Powers

Sun Journal  7 awards go to Trevor Dunnell, Bill Hand, Todd Wetherington, Chris Segal, Charlie Hall and staff 

Times News (Burlington)   one award goes to Ahmed Jallow

Division E

Asheville Citizen-Times Michael VanGorder, Marilyn Parnell, Karen Chávez and Joel Burgess

Charlotte Observer  29 total awards going to Mike Quick, Jason Smith, Justin Moore

Michael Gordon, Joe Marusak, Paige Masten, Kristen Kornbluth, Theoden Janes, Jeff Siner, Scott Fowler, CharlotteFive staff, Will Wright, Lauren Lindstrom, Alex Andrejev, Khadejeh Nikouyeh, Will Wright, Sara Coello, Carli Brosseau, Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez, Maddie Ellis and staff 

Daily Reflector   11 advertising awards for Christina Ruotolo, Emily Leach, Jessica Harris and Staff

News & Observer  34 total awards for Tod Machin, Brian Murphy, Adam Wagner, Aaron Sánchez-Guerra, Lynn Bonner, T. Keung Hui, Tyler Dukes, Will Doran, Clifton Dowell, Carli Brosseau, Julia Wall, Drew Jackson, Casey Toth, Travis Long, Andrew Carter, Nina Pasquini, Laura Brache, Kimberly Cataudella, Danielle Battaglia, Kate Murphy, Martha Quillin, Lucille Sherman, Dan Kane,  David Raynor, Sara Pequeño, Robert Willett, Kevin Keister, Luke DeCock, Lars Dolder, Ned Barnett, Josh Shaffer, Brooke Cain, Martha Quillin  and Staff

News & Record 20 awards go to Ray Causey, Jennifer Atkins Brown, Cindy Loman,  Tanya Roberts, Dawn DeCwikiel-Kane, Allen Johnson, Mike Kernels, Woody Marshall, Nancy McLaughlin, Richard M. Barron,, Kenneth Ferriera and Staff

StarNews  11 awards go to Emma Dill, Sydney Hoover, Jonathan Haynes, John Staton, John Orona, Gareth McGrath, Hunter Ingram, Owen Hassell, Dan Spears and Staff

Statesville Record & Landmark   One editorial award goes to Taylor Jedrzejek

Winston-Salem Journal   23 awards for Ray Causey, Scott Sexton, Walt Unks, Mick Scott, John Dell, John Hinton, Wesley Young, Andrew Dye, Allison Lee Isley, Ethan Joyce, Michael Hastings, Lisa O'Donnell  and Staff

NCPA special awards

Lassiter First Amendment Award , Senator Bill Rabon 

Media & Law awards sponsored and presented by NC Bar Association president Clayton Morgan 

Best Community Article

Bill Cresenzo

North Carolina Lawyers Weekly

A Surge Of Silver Splitters Are Calling Lawyers, Calling It Quits

Best Daily Newspaper Article

Michael Gordon

The Charlotte Observer

Inmates seeking release from COVID-hit prisons have next to no chance in this

NC district

Best Online Article

Kate Martin

Carolina Public Press

Justice for Children of Cherokee County

Best Series

Olivia Neeley

The Wilson Times

Fighting for Freedom

Duke University/Green-Rossiter Award for Distinguished Newspaper Work in Higher Education

Community Division:  Sara Pequeño Indy Week   For her work on  Nikole Hannah-Jones's Experience with UNC Emblematic of Struggle for Black Women in Academia

Daily Division: Kate Murphy, Martha Quillin and Lucille Sherman News & Observer For their Coverage of North Carolina's universities

Online Division:  Joe Killian  N.C. Policy Watch For his coverage on Political pressure in higher education



Hugh Morton Photographer of the year award. 

Hugh Morton Photographer of the Year in the Community Newspaper Division from  27587 Magazine, Bob Karp

Hugh Morton Photographer of the Year in the Daily Newspaper Division from the Charlotte Observer, Khadejeh Nikouyeh

Hugh Morton Photographer of the Year in the Online Newspaper Division from NewOldNorth.com, Ken Fine

The Henry Lee Weathers Freedom of Information Award 

For community newspapers:   Tom Boney, Jr. and Staff Alamance News

Publisher held in contempt, forcibly removed from courtroom, handcuffed after trying to cover trial

In the daily division:   Dan Kane, Kate Murphy and Martha Quillin News & Observer

UNC secrecy vs. the public's right to know

And in the online division: Greg Barnes, Bill Kirby Jr. CityView TODAY

Investigating the Tisha Waddell allegations

Mark Binker public notice award .

For coverage on,  Antioch Farms  our community winner is Thomas Sherrill News Reporter 

For coverage on, One property, two visions of the future  our daily winner is Wesley Young Winston-Salem Journal

Public Service awards.  

First -- community newspapers
Staff Smoky Mountain News. The Pigeon River Flood of 2021

In the daily division 

Ames Alexander, Gavin Off, David Raynor, and Richard Stradling Charlotte Observer. Death in the Fast Lane

And in the online division 

Sally Kestin   Asheville Watchdog. Equity Erased



Advertising Sweepstakes and General Excellence in print and online.

Sponsored by Metro Creative Graphics the sweepstakes award recognizes the top award winners from each division.   

Perquimans Weekly Division A

State Port Pilot Division B

Smoky Mountain News Division C

Goldsboro News-Argus Division D

Daily Reflector Division E


Division A.

General Excellence for websites 

3rd place Cherokee One Feather

2nd place  Watauga Democrat

1st place  Hendersonville Lightning

Overall General Excellence

3rd place North State Journal

2nd place Highlander

1st place Watauga Democrat



Division B

General Excellence for websites 

3rd place State Port Pilot 

2nd place Chatham News & Record

1st place News Reporter 

Overall General Excellence

3rd place State Port Pilot

2nd place Washington Daily News

1st place Chatham News + Record

Division C
General Excellence for websites 

3rd place Triad City Beat 

2nd place Wilson Times 

1st place Mountaineer 

Overall General Excellence

3rd place Smoky Mountain News

2nd place Wilson Times

1st place The Pilot


online-only organizations:

website only 

3rd place Island Free Press

2nd place Carolina Public Press

1st place Border Belt Independent

Overall general excellence 

3rd place NC Health News

2nd place Coastal Review

1st place Carolina Public Press



Division D, 

General Excellence for websites 

3rd place Hickory Daily Record

2nd place Sun Journal

1st place Daily News (Jacksonville) 

Overall General Excellence

3rd place Hickory Daily Record

2nd place Goldsboro News-Argus

1st place Fayetteville Observer

Division E

General Excellence for websites 

3rd place Daily Reflector 

2nd place Charlotte Observer

1st place StarNews

Overall General Excellence

3rd place Winston-Salem Journal

2nd place News & Observer

1st place Charlotte Observer



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