NASHVILLE — Newspapers across Tennessee won top awards in the Tennessee Press Association’s 2005 newspaper contests, co-sponsored by the University of Tennessee.
The Erwin Record, Southern Standard in McMinnville, The Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro and The Commercial Appeal in Memphis won Sweepstakes Awards at the association’s annual banquet July 15 in Nashville at the Sheraton Music City hotel.
Awards are given in four circulation categories — two for non-daily publications, and two for dailies.
Sweepstakes honors are based on total points accumulated in the categories, with six points for first place, down to one point for sixth place.
The Mississippi Press Association judged a total of 1,053 contest entries from 80 of TPA’s 130-member papers.
Eight newspapers received $100 awards from the University of Tennessee’s Edward J. Meeman Foundation, which works to support and reward excellence in editorial writing and public service.
Those newspapers were: Rogersville Review and The Herald-News in Dayton, editorials; The Millington Star, The Courier in Savannah, The Paris Post-Intelligencer, and The Tennessean in Nashville, best single editorial; The Lebanon Democrat and The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, public service.
The Commercial Appeal earned the most first-place honors with seven. It won for best news photograph, best news story, community lifestyles, general excellence, public service, sports, and Sunday editions in the large daily category.
Southern Standard, McMinnville, claimed six top awards for best news photograph, best personal column, local features, promotion of newspapers, public service, and sports in the large non-daily group.
The Tennessean, Nashville, won five first-place awards for best feature photograph, best single editorial, best single feature, editorials, and make-up and appearance in the large daily category.
Rogersville Review took top honors in best personal column, best single advertisement, best special issue or section, and editorials in the small non-daily division.
Winners of three first-place awards:
In the small non-daily division, The Erwin Record, for best feature photograph, best sports photograph, and community lifestyles.
In the large non-daily category, The Courier, Savannah, for best feature photograph, best single editorial, and best sports photograph.
In the small daily group, The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, for general excellence, make-up and appearance, and sports; The Daily Times, Maryville, for best news story, best personal column, and best sports photograph.
At the large daily level, the News Sentinel, Knoxville, for best personal humor column, best sports photograph, and local features.
Winners of two first-place awards:
In the small non-daily category, Chester County Independent, Henderson, best news story and best single feature; Monroe County Advocate & Democrat, Sweetwater, best personal humor column and local features.
In the large non-daily group, The Herald-News, Dayton, best single feature and editorials.
In the small daily division, The Daily Herald, Columbia, best feature photograph and editorials; The Lebanon Democrat, best personal humor column and public service; Memphis Business Journal, general excellence and make-up and appearance; The Paris Post-Intelligencer, best single advertisement and best single editorial.
At the large daily level, Johnson City Press, best special issue or section and promotion of newspapers.
Winners of one first-place award:
In the small non-daily group, The Courier-News, Clinton, make-up and appearance; Herald and Tribune, Jonesborough, general excellence; Independent Herald, Oneida, best news photograph; The Millington Star, best single editorial; Mt. Juliet News, public service; Smithville Review, sports.
In the large non-daily division, The Covington Leader, community lifestyles; The LaFollette Press, best news story; Pulaski Citizen, best special issue or section; Volunteer Times, LaFollette, best personal humor column.
In the small daily category, Citizen Tribune, Morristown, community lifestyles; The Leaf-Chronicle, Clarksville, best special issue or section; The Newport Plain Talk, best news photograph; Shelbyville Times-Gazette, local features; Union City Daily Messenger, best single feature.
At the large daily level, Kingsport Times-News, best personal column.