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Awards for Excellence

2023 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2023 Awards for Excellence competition. This year’s winners will be officially recognized at the Continuing Excellence Awards in September with invitations to follow.

The annual contest recognizes journalistic and advertising excellence among the association’s member newspapers.

Newspapers competed against one another in five circulation classes:
Under 10,000; 10,000-24,999; 25,000-49,999; 50,000-75,000 and Over 75,000. Contest judges selected winners from 431 entries submitted by 23 New York State publications.

EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM

The judges were:

  • Rob Brill, retired editor of the Times Union, Albany 
  • Diana Bean, retired editor of Binghamton University Magazine
  • Teresa Buckley, retired senior editor of the Times Union, Albany  
  • Ken Tingley, retired editor of The Post-Star, Glens Falls, current Substack column writer of The Front Page
  • Henry Davis, retired health reporter for The Buffalo News

Awards were presented in each of twenty-three news categories (see full category descriptions below). Click here for a copy of the press release announcing the winners.

Following is the list of winners:

 

 

 

 

Adirondack Daily Enterprise

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

Under 10,000

Distinguished Live Sports Coverage

Parker O’Brien, Peter Crowley

Under 10,000

Distinguished Sports Writing

Parker O’Brien

Under 10,000

Distinguished Headline Writing

Tori Marbone, Aaron Marbone 

 

 

 

 

The Cortland Standard

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

Under 10,000

Distinguished Editorial Writing

Todd R. McAdams

 

 

 

 

The Citizen, Auburn

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

Under 10,000

Distinguished Feature Writing

David Wilcox

Under 10,000

Distinguished State Government Coverage

Robert Harding

Under 10,000

Distinguished Online Blog

Robert Harding

Under 10,000

Distinguished Feature Photography

Kevin Rivoli

Under 10,000

Distinguished News Photography

Kevin Rivoli

 

 

 

 

The Daily Catch, Red Hook

 

Under 10,000

Distinguished Breaking News Coverage

Emily Sachar

Under 10,000

Distinguished Investigative Reporting

Emily Sachar

 

 

 

 

Highlands Current, Cold Spring

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

Under 10,000

Distinguished Column Writing

Michael Turton

Under 10,000

Distinguished Business Reporting

Jeff Simms, Leonard Sparks, Brian PJ Cronin  

Under 10,000

Distinguished Beat Reporting

Joey Asher  

Under 10,000

Distinguished Page Design/Presentation

Pierce Strudler  

 

 

 

 

Finger Lakes Times, Geneva

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

Under 10,000

Distinguished Sports Supplement

Anne Allis, Mary Beth Thorpe, Pete Lambos, Nick Felice, Spencer Tulis, Dawn Bell,

Dawn Lamitie, Deb Hunt, Jason Hagerman, Cheryl Maslyn

Under 10,000

Distinguished Sports Column Writing

Spencer Tulis  

Under 10,000

Distinguished Sports Photography

Spencer Tulis

Under 10,000

Distinguished Multi-Media Presentation

Spencer Tulis 

Under 10,000

Distinguished Feature Supplement

Alan Brignall, Steve Buchiere, Louise Hoffman Broach,

Mike Hibbard,

Susan Clark Porter,

Desiree Jacot, Mike Cutillo,

Pete Lambos, Nick Felice  

 

 

 

 

Press-Republican, Plattsburgh

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

Under 10,000

Distinguished Feature Photography

Ben Rowe

Under 10,000

Distinguished Sports Photography

Joey LaFranca 

Under 10,000

Distinguished Editorial Writing

Joe LoTemplio  

 

 

 

 

The Daily Sentinel, Rome

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

Under 10,000

Distinguished Community Service

Mike Jaquays, Sean Mills,Jolene Cleaver, Casey Pritchard, Alexis Manore, Thomas Caputo, Pamela Sperbeck, John Clifford

 

 

 

 

Observer-Dispatch, Utica

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

10,000 – 24,999

Distinguished Business Reporting

Amy Roth  

 

 

 

Press & Sun-Bulletin, Binghamton

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

10,000 – 24,999

Distinguished Live Sports Coverage

Andrew Legare    

 

 

 

 

The Journal News, White Plains

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

10,000 – 24,999

Distinguished Feature Writing

Peter Kramer  

10,000 – 24,999

Distinguished Community Service

Diana Dombrowski,
Gary Stern  

10,000 – 24,999

Distinguished News Photography

Frank Becerra Jr.  

10,000 – 24,999

Distinguished Online Photo Gallery

Seth Harrison

10,000 – 24,999

Distinguished Breaking News Coverage

Jonathan Bandler  

10,000 – 24,999

Distinguished Beat Reporting

Lieberman Steve, Kramer Peter  

10,000 – 24,999

Distinguished Investigative Reporting

Thomas Zambito, Noah Ram, Melanie Anzidei  

10,000 – 24,999
Distinguished Multi-Media Presentation

Seth Harrison,

David McKay Wilson  

 

 

 

 

Poughkeepsie Journal

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

10,000 – 24,999

Distinguished Sports Writing

 Stephen Haynes  

 

 

 

 

Staten Island Advance

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

25,000 – 49,999

Distinguished Investigative Reporting

Jessica Jones-Gorman  

25,000 – 49,999

Distinguished News Photography

Jason Paderon

25,000 – 49,999

Distinguished Multi-Media Presentation

Erik Bascome,

Sean McKeown-Young, Cassondra Sommer  

25,000 – 49,999

Distinguished Community Service

Staff

 

Distinguished Online Photo Gallery

Priya Shahi  

25,000 – 49,999

Distinguished Feature Photography

Jason Paderon

25,000 – 49,999

Distinguished Beat Reporting

Erik Bascome  

 

 

 

The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished State Government Coverage

Brad Racino 

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Community Service

Douglass Dowty  

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished News Photography

Dennis Nett  

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Feature Supplement

Sonja Duntley

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Breaking News Coverage

Anne Hayes, Rylee Kirk,

Darian Stevenson,

Fernando Alba,

Marnie Eisenstadt,

Katrina Tulloch  

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Live Sports Coverage

Mike Waters, Donna Ditota, Chris Carlson, Brent Axe,

Emily Leiker  

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Business Reporting

Tim Knauss, Glenn Coin

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Editorial Writing

Marie Morelli  

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Sports Writing

Chris Carlson  

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Online Photo Gallery

Katrina Tulloch  

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Beat Reporting

Glenn Coin

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Sports Column Writing

Donna Ditota  

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Feature Writing

Marnie Eisenstadt  

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Multi-Media Presentation

Christa Lemczak, Lauren Long, Nate Mink, Mike Waters,

N. Scott Trimble, John Lammers, Trish LaMonte, Donna Ditota, Johnathan Croyle 

 

 

 

 

Times Union, Albany

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Headline Writing

Gregory Dayton  

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Column Writing

Casey Seiler

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Investigative Reporting

Chris Hippensteel  

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Page Design/Presentation

Gregory Dayton  

 

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Online Blog

Kristi Barlette  

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Sports Photography

Lori Van Buren 

50,000 – 75,000

Distinguished Feature Photography

Will Waldron  

 

 

 

Democrat & Chronicle, Rochester

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

75,000 – and over

Distinguished Multi-Media Presentation

Robert Bell

 

 

 

Newsday, Long Island

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

75,000 – and over

Headline Writing

Heather Doyle, Rachel Weiss


75,000 – and over

Feature Supplement

Andi Berlin, Erica Marcus,

 Scott Vogel  

75,000 – and over

Sports Photography

J. Conrad Williams Jr. 

75,000 – and over

Best Innovative Idea

Nannette Fevola, Adrian Debattista, Donna Saladino, Valerie Kellogg  

75,000 – and over

Community Service

Newsday Staff

75,000 – and over

Feature Photography

Steve Pfost 

75,000 – and over

News Photography

J. Conrad Williams Jr.  

75,000 – and over

Business Reporting

James T. Madore  

75,000 – and over

Sports Column Writing

Laura Albanese 

75,000 – and over

Investigative Reporting

Jim Baumbach, Joie Tyrrell  

75,000 – and over

Breaking News Coverage

Newsday Staff

 

 

 

Buffalo News

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

75,000 – and over

Distinguished Editorial Writing

Elizabeth Licata  

75,000 – and over

Distinguished Sports Writing

Rachel Lenzi  

75,000 – and over

Distinguished Column Writing

Sean Kirst

75,000 – and over

Distinguished Live Sports Coverage

Jay Skurski, Ryan O'Halloran, Stephen T Watson, Mark Gaughan, Scott Scanlon, Lance Lysowski  

75,000 – and over

Distinguished Sports Supplement

Lance Lysowski,Mike Harrington  

75,000 – and over

Distinguished Online Photo Gallery

Libby March

75,000 – and over

Distinguished Feature Writing

Sean Kirst 

75,000 – and over

Distinguished Beat Reporting

Jon Harris

EXCELLENCE IN ADVERTISING

The judges were:

  • Ethan Fogg, president & CEO - Ontario County Chamber of Commerce, former regional director of Circulation and Marketing, Community Media Group
  • Jeff Weigand, former publisher and Chief Revenue Officer, Oswego Media Group
  • Pam Lego, director of operations, Hoosier State Press Association, Indiana
  • Tanya Henderson, executive director, Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation
  • Catherine Moore, former publisher and advertising manager for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and Lake Placid News

 

 

 

 

Highlands Current, Cold Spring

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

Under 10,000

Best House/Newspaper Promotion Ad, Series or Section

Teresa Lagerman  

Under 10,000

Best Multi Advertiser Page

Pierce Strudler, Michele Gedney  

 

 

 

 

Finger Lakes Times, Geneva

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

Under 10,000

Best Black and White Ad

Anne Allis  

 

Best Color Ad

Anne Allis  

Under 10,000

Most Effective Use of Paid Small Space

Anne Allis, Mary Beth Thorpe  

Under 10,000

Most Effective Use of Paid Large Space

Anne Allis, Mary Beth Thorpe  

Under 10,000

Special Section Newsprint Distribution in Paper

Anne Allis, Mary Beth Thorpe, Beth Kesel, Danielle Hagerman, Dawn Bell, Jason Hagerman, Dawn Lamitie, Deb Hunt, Cheryl Maslyn, Desiree Jacot  

Under 10,000

Best Online Ad (Animated)

Anne Allis 

Under 10,000

Best Classified Section

Anne Allis, Mary Beth Thorpe  

Under 10,000

Best Custom Sponsored Content Piece 

Mary Beth Thorpe, Anne Allis

Under 10,000

Best Special Section Non-Newsprint Distribution in Paper

Anne Allis, Mary Beth Thorpe, Beth Kesel, Danielle Hagerman, Jason Hagerman, Dawn Bell, Cheryl Maslyn, Dawn Lamitie, Deb Hunt, Alan Brignall   

Under 10,000

Best Innovative Idea (Shared via Video Platform for Entrants)

Anne Allis, Mary Beth Thorpe, Beth Kesel, Danielle Hagerman, Jason Hagerman, Dawn Bell, Dawn Lamitie, Deb Hunt, Cheryl Maslyn, Susan Clark Porter  

Under 10,000

The Charmaine Ushkow Award for Advertising Excellence

Staff

 

 

 

 

Staten Island Advance

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

10,000 – 24,999

Best Custom Sponsored Content Piece

Dan Ryan, Ana Gonzalez, Isabella Mest  

10,000 – 24,999

Best Use of Video

Dan Ryan, Isabella Mest, SI Live Studios  

10,000 – 24,999

Best Online Ad (Animated) 

Alaa Selim, Kara Scandaglia   


10,000 – 24,999

Best Special Section Newsprint Distribution in Paper

Dan Ryan, Isabella Mest,

David Cohen, Ana Gonzalez  

10,000 – 24,999

Most Effective Use of Paid Small Space

Alaa Selim, Robert King  

10,000 – 24,999

Most Effective Use of Paid Large Space

Melissa Chin, Julie Williams,

 Ed Burns  

 

 

 

 

The Post Standard/Syracuse.com

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

50,000 – 75,000

Most Effective Use of Paid Small Space

Matt Sourwine, Lizzy Martin, Dylan Carpenter  

50,000 – 75,000

Best Online Ad (Static)

Kayleigh Tarbet, Christina Cole  

50,000 – 75,000

Best Online Ad (Animated) 

Matt Sourwine, Kayleigh Tarbet, Christina Cole  

50,000 – 75,000

Best Use of Video

Karen Sherwood, Bridget Cerrone, Kayleigh Tarbet  

50,000 – 75,000

Best Custom Sponsored Content Piece

Bridget Cerrone, Mary Jo Kravec,Karen Sherwood  

50,000 – 75,000

Best Innovative Idea (Shared via Video Platform for Entrants)

Matt Sourwine, Lea Gonyea, Jim Kulakowski, Kayleigh Tarbet, Liam Fitzsimmons  

 

 

 

 

Newsday, Long Island

 

Circulation Class

Category

Winners

75,000 – and over

Best Innovative Idea (Shared via Video Platform for Entrants)

Nannette Fevola, Adrian Debattista, Donna Saladino, Valerie Kellogg  

 

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Subject Categories - NEWS
(Note: Print and digital content is eligible for entry in all categories, except in categories 18-20, which are reserved for online-only content, and categories 21-23, which are reserved for newspaper supplement and/or specialty publication content.) 

  1. Distinguished Breaking News Coverage
    Submissions should demonstrate effective newspaper response to deadline demands. Submissions may consist of a single story or a group of stories by one or more reporters relating to the same event. Submissions should demonstrate clarity, thoroughness, balance, and aggressiveness in the coverage of local spot news.

  2. Distinguished Live Sports Coverage
    Submissions should demonstrate effective newspaper response to deadline demands as related to live sporting events. Submissions may consist of a single story or a group of stories by one or more reporters relating to the same event. Submissions should demonstrate clarity, thoroughness, balance, and aggressiveness in the coverage of local live sports.

  3. Distinguished Investigative Reporting
    Submissions should demonstrate thorough, thoughtful, fair, and resourceful reporting of local stories that reveal corruption or malfeasance or inherent flaws in the functioning of society's institutions, and/or stories that effectively measure the performance of those institutions against their stated missions. Submissions may consist of a single story or a group of stories by one or more reporters relating to the same event.

  4. Distinguished Business Reporting
    Submissions should demonstrate effective newspaper coverage of business and the economy, skillful investigative reporting and excellence in writing style, editing, display and other pertinent criteria. The subject matter should deal primarily with how business and economic events relate to individuals and the newspaper's community. In this category, a submission may be one or more articles from the same edition relating to the same story, or a series of articles on a common subject running on different days.

  5. Distinguished Beat Reporting
    Submissions should demonstrate sustained and knowledgeable coverage of a particular subject or activity of local interest. Submissions should be a series of no more than five reports on the same subject or activity by the same writer.

  6. Distinguished Editorial Writing
    Submissions should demonstrate a genuine concern for local community problems; courage in taking a position regardless of the popular view and/or against own self-interest; originality of viewpoint and style; and other pertinent criteria. Each submission must be a local editorial. One or more editorials by the same writer on the same subject may be submitted to this category.

  7. Distinguished Feature Writing
    Submissions should showcase good writing in non-deadline situations. Submissions may include personality profiles, trend stories, narratives and general features. Submissions should demonstrate style, originality and the ability to make readers laugh, cry or feel. Submissions may consist of a single story or a series of stories from one or more editions relating to the same subject.          

  8. Distinguished Sports Writing
    Submissions should demonstrate effective coverage of the people, institutions or trends in the local sports community employing thorough, thoughtful, fair, and resourceful reporting as well as quality writing. Submissions may consist of a single story or a group of stories by one or more reporters relating to the same topic.

  9. Distinguished Column Writing
    Submissions should demonstrate originality, insight, wit, the capacity to illuminate character, and the capacity to enhance the reader's understanding of persons and events in the community served by the newspaper. Submissions may be a single column or a body of work by the same writer up to a maximum of five columns.

  10. Distinguished Sports Column Writing
    Submissions should demonstrate originality, insight, wit, the capacity to illuminate character, and the capacity to enhance the reader’s understanding of persons and events in local or national sports. Submissions may be a single body of work by the same writer up to a maximum of five columns.

  11. Distinguished Headline Writing
    Submissions should demonstrate clarity, creativity, and the capacity to distill and capture the essence of the story. Single submissions only will be accepted in this category.

  12. Distinguished Community Service
    Submissions (in this category a submission may be a series of articles and/or editorials on a common subject) should demonstrate effort and effect on the part of the local newspaper toward the improvement of the community served, as well as an effort on the newspaper’s part to engage the community through both traditional and new media.

  13. Distinguished State Government Coverage
    Submissions should demonstrate effective newspaper coverage of state government as manifested in service to the community; skillful investigative reporting and excellence in writing style, editing, display, and other pertinent criteria. The subject matter should deal primarily with an aspect of state government - the legislature, executive branch, a specific state agency, etc. - and how it relates to the community. In this category, a submission may be one or more articles from the same edition relating to the same story, or a series of articles on a common subject running on different days.

  14. Distinguished Page Design/Presentation
    Submissions should demonstrate strong visual appeal, style and originality; and should enhance the written content, making it easy to understand or navigate. Submissions may be a single page or a body of work designed by the same person, up to a maximum of three examples. If submitting a series, up to three days' editions may be included.

  15. Distinguished News Photography
    Submissions should demonstrate news value, timeliness, communicative effectiveness, and skill as shown in composition and technical quality. A submission may be one or more photographs from one or more editions relating to the same news event.

  16. Distinguished Feature Photography
    Submissions should demonstrate imagination in the handling of feature subjects; communicative effectiveness; appeal to reader interest; and skill in composition, technical quality, and cropping. A submission may be one or more photographs from one or more editions relating to the same feature subject.

  17. Distinguished Sports Photography
    Submissions should sharply capture the drama inherent in human athletic competition and draw the reader's eye to peak action, capturing the moment and communicating it on an emotional level with a high degree of technical skill, composition and quality. A submission may be one or more photographs from one or more editions relating to the same subject.

  18. Distinguished Online Photo Gallery
    Submissions should consist of a series of photographs which appeared on a newspaper’s website in a single gallery. Submissions should enhance the story to which the gallery is attached, while demonstrating the highest standards of photojournalism.

  19. Distinguished Online Blog
    Submissions should demonstrate timeliness, originality, insight, reader interaction and the capacity to enhance the reader's understanding of persons and events in the community served by the newspaper. Submissions may be a single day's blog entry or entries, or a series of blog entries over the course of the year by the same writer, with a maximum of ten entries.

  20. Distinguished Multi-Media Presentation
    Submissions should demonstrate work that incorporates distinguished journalistic storytelling via media other than the print format. Submissions may consist of web-based interactive graphics and displays, videos, photo galleries and audio slideshows, or any combination of all of these elements. Creativity, ease-of-use for the website visitor, impact on the community and overall technical execution will be among factors considered by the judges.

  21. Distinguished News Supplement
    Submissions should demonstrate imaginative layout and design; creative use of headlines; solid, staff-written articles; and high-quality photos relating to a breaking news event. Submissions should also demonstrate knowledge of and connection with the newspaper’s community, and must contain primarily locally-produced content. Submissions may be one example of a regularly-produced weekly supplement, or a one-time supplement or publication.

  22. Distinguished Sports Supplement
    Submissions should demonstrate imaginative layout and design; creative use of headlines; solid, staff-written articles; and high-quality photos relating to a local or national sporting event. Submissions should also demonstrate knowledge of and connection with the newspaper’s community, and must contain primarily locally-produced content. Submissions may be one example of a regularly-produced weekly supplement, or a one-time supplement or publication.

  23. Distinguished Feature Supplement
    Submissions should demonstrate imaginative layout and design; creative use of headlines; solid, staff-written articles; and high-quality photos relating to a common feature. Submissions should also demonstrate knowledge of and connection with the newspaper’s community, and must contain primarily locally-produced content. Submissions may be one example of a regularly-produced weekly supplement, or a one-time supplement or publication.

Subject Categories - ADVERTISING
(Note: Print and digital content is eligible for entry in all categories, except in categories 28 & 36, which are intended for print only, and 29-30 & 34, which are reserved for online-only content) 

  1. Best Black and White Ad
    Submissions can be any ad size. Submission may include an explanation of why entry is a winning entry.

  2. Best Color Ad
    Submissions can be any ad size. Submission may include an explanation of why entry is a winning entry.

  3. Most Effective Use of Paid Small Space
    Judges will consider the creativity of copy, along with originality and impact. Ad must be conceptualized and executed solely by the newspaper. All ads must be generated by the newspaper. Ads must be less than a half page.

  4. Most Effective Use of Paid Large Space
    Judges will consider the creativity of copy, along with originality and impact. Ad must be conceptualized and executed solely by the newspaper. All ads must be generated by the newspaper. Ads must be a half page or larger.

  5. Best Special Section Newsprint Distributed In Paper
    Multi-advertiser section involving a single theme. Ad must be produced solely by the newspaper. Judges will consider the uniqueness of idea, content both editorial and ads and overall layout. If an entry runs in multiple newspapers, it must be submitted in a circulation category matching the COMBINED CIRCULATION of those newspapers.

  6. Best Online Ad (Static)
    Ad must be fixed, with no moving parts. All sizes are eligible. Ads must be generated by the newspaper (not camera-ready client produced). Can be paid or a house ad. Creativity and effectiveness of design and message will be criteria for judging.

  7. Best Online Ad (Animated) 
    Ad may be .jpg, .gif or Flash. Must have an animated or dynamic element. All sizes are eligible. Ads must be generated by the newspaper (not camera-ready client produced). Can be paid or a house ad. Creativity and effectiveness of design and message will be criteria for judging.

  8. Best Classified Section
    Submit classified page(s) from any one issue during the contest 2022 year. Judged on organization, design, readability, and in-house promotion.

  9. Best House/Newspaper Promotion Ad, Series or Section
    Ad/Series/Section produced by staff to promote an aspect of the newspaper. This may be for circulation, advertising/marketing, editorial or general image/branding. If an entry runs in multiple newspapers, it must be submitted in a circulation category matching the COMBINED CIRCULATION of those newspapers.

  10. Best Multi Advertiser Page 
    Multi-advertiser page or pages (not special section – no cover and minimal editorial) involving a single theme: shopping center, seasonal merchandise, specialty stores, holiday, etc. Judges will consider the uniqueness and overall layout. If an entry runs in multiple newspapers, it must be submitted in a circulation category matching the COMBINED CIRCULATION of those newspapers.

  11. Best Use of Video
    Judges will consider creativity, innovation, and impact as well as how effectively the video content delivers the intended message.

  12. Best Custom Sponsored Content Piece  
    Entries can be a single article or a series of articles that draw the reader in with commercial sales/promotion. Delivering content that is informative, relevant, and entertaining that it is part of readers’ consumption of editorial content.

  13. Best Special Section Non-Newsprint Distributed In Paper 
    Any section involving a special subject or theme printed on glossy stock qualifies for this category. Judges will consider the quality of editorial content and graphic design. Special consideration will be given to locally prepared editorial and ad content, as well as particular interest or importance to the community. If an entry runs in multiple newspapers, it must be submitted in a circulation category matching the COMBINED CIRCULATION of those Newspapers.

  14. Best Innovative Idea
    An innovative project or idea initiated by the newspaper’s advertising department that resulted in additional revenue for the newspaper. Entries should include a short description of the project or idea, information on revenue generated and the product itself, which may have appeared online, in print or both.

  15. The Charmaine Ushkow Award for Advertising Excellence
    The Charmaine Ushkow Award will be given for the best overall newspaper advertising. The winner of this award will be the newspaper who has accumulation the greatest number of award among all categories.

Archived 2022 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2022 Awards for Excellence competition.

The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers. Contest judges selected winners from 435 entries submitted by 29 New York State publications.

For the complete list of winners, download the 2022 contest's press release via the link below:


Archived 2021 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2021 Awards for Excellence competition. Due to COVID-19 our traditional awards banquet was again cancelled.

The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers. Contest judges selected winners from m 426 entries submitted by 22 New York State daily newspapers.

For the complete list of winners, download the 2021 contest's press release via the link below:


Archived 2020 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2020 Awards for Excellence competition. Due to COVID-19 our traditional awards banquet was again cancelled.

The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers. Contest judges selected winners from 388 entries submitted by 20 New York State daily newspapers.

For the complete list of winners, download the 2020 contest's press release via the link below:


Archived 2019 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2019 Awards for Excellence competition. Due to COVID-19 our traditional awards banquet was cancelled.

The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers. Contest judges selected winners from 358 entries submitted by 19 New York State daily newspapers.

For the complete list of winners, download the 2019 contest's press release via the link below:


Archived 2018 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2018 Awards for Excellence competition. This year’s winners were officially recognized at the 2019 Continuing Excellence Banquet and Reception on Wednesday, July 17 at the Hearst Media Center at 645 Albany Shaker Road, Albany.

The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers.

This year, contest judges selected winners from 407 entries submitted by 20 New York state daily newspapers.

For the complete list of winners, download the 2018 contest's press release via the link below:


Archived 2017 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2017 Awards for Excellence competition. This year’s winners were officially recognized at the 2018 Continuing Excellence Banquet and Reception on Wednesday, July 18 at the Hearst Media Center at 645 Albany Shaker Road, Albany.

The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers.

This year, contest judges selected winners from 399 entries submitted by 24 New York state daily newspapers.

For the complete list of winners, download the 2017 contest's press release and presentation via the links below:


Archived 2016 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2016 Awards for Excellence competition. This year’s winners were officially recognized at the 2017 Continuing Excellence Banquet and Reception on Wednesday, July 19 at The State Room in Albany.

The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers.

This year, contest judges selected winners from 436 entries submitted by 23 New York State daily newspapers.

For the complete list of winners, download the 2016 contest's press release and presentation via the links below:


Archived 2015 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2015 Awards for Excellence competition. This year’s winners were officially recognized at the 2016 Continuing Excellence Banquet and Reception on Wednesday, July 20 at The State Room in Albany.

The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers.

This year, contest judges selected winners from 482 entries submitted by 26 New York State daily newspapers.

For the complete list of winners, download the 2015 contest's press release and presentation via the links below:


Archived 2013-2014 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2013-2014 Awards for Excellence competition. This year’s winners were officially recognized at the Continuing Excellence Banquet and Reception on Wednesday, July 22 at The State Room in Albany.

The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers.

This year, contest judges selected winners from 480 entries submitted by 28 New York State daily newspapers.

Once again, the Poughkeepsie Journal was the biggest winner of the competition, taking home 14 awards in the 25,000-49,999 circulation group.

Other big winners of the contest included Newsday (12 awards in Over 175,000), the Press-Republican in Plattsburgh (11 awards in 10,000-24,999), The Post-Standard in Syracuse (8 awards in 50,000-175,000) and the Finger Lakes Times in Geneva (7 awards in 10,000-24,999).

Additionally, four people were honored with NYNPA’s John Peter Zenger Award, which recognizes individuals who demonstrate an unyielding dedication to freedom of the press in the state of New York. The 2015 honorees were Donna Donovan, Lisa Robert Lewis, Barbara Lombardo and Barry Rothfeld.

For the complete list of winners and bios of the John Peter Zenger Award winners, or to view the awards banquet slideshow presentation, please utilize the links below:

Archived 2012-2013 Contest Information

The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2012-2013 Awards for Excellence competition. This year’s winners were officially recognized at the Continuing Excellence Banquet and Reception on Wednesday, April 9 at The State Room in Albany. The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers.

Contest judges selected winners from 567 entries submitted by 34 New York State daily newspapers. To download the banquet's awards presentation slideshow or NYNPA's official press release announcing this year's contest winners please use the links below:


Archived 2011-2012 Contest Information
The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2011-2012 Awards for Excellence competition. This year’s winners were officially recognized at the Continuing Excellence Banquet and Reception on Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at The State Room in Albany. The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers.

Contest judges selected winners from 566 entries submitted by 37 New York State daily newspapers. For a complete list of results, please download the official press release below:


Archived 2010-2011 Contest Information
The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2010-2011 Awards for Excellence competition. This year’s winners were officially recognized at the Continuing Excellence Banquet and Reception on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at The State Room in Albany. The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers.

Contest judges selected winners from 512 entries submitted by 28 New York State daily newspapers. For a complete list of results, please download either of the following documents:


Archived 2009-2010 Contest Information
The New York News Publishers Association has announced the winners of its 2009-2010 Awards for Excellence competition. This year’s winners were officially recognized at the Continuing Excellence Banquet and Reception on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at The State Room in Albany. The annual contest recognizes journalistic excellence among the association’s member newspapers.

Contest judges selected winners from 644 entries submitted by 33 New York State daily newspapers. For a complete list of results, please download any of the following documents:

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