PARKERSBURG - The Parkersburg News and Sentinel won third place in general excellence in the 2011 Better Newspaper Contest by the West Virginia Press Association.
The newspaper won numerous advertising and editorial awards in the annual competition among West Virginia newspapers.
Jim Spanner, publisher, said, "The awards illustrate the newspaper's continuous priority to provide compelling news and photography of local events. It also reinforces our reputation in the business community for providing outstanding advertising services and creative eye-catching design.
"By winning these awards, we have shown our commitment to the community," Spanner said.
The following awards were won in editorial, which competed in Division 2:
* Third, general excellence.
* First, photo feature, Jeff Baughan.
* First, photo essay, Jeff Baughan.
* First, sports section, sports staff.
* First, lifestyle pages, Tresa Taylor.
* Second, single issue, staff.
* Second, sports photo, Jeff Baughan.
* Second, single editorial, Larry Cox.
* Second, sports section, sports staff.
* Second, cartoon and graphics, Ed Thomas
* Third, sports photo, Jeff Baughan.
* Third, editorial page, staff.
* Third, photo essay, Jeff Baughan.
* Third, sports photo, Jeff Baughan.
* Third, front page, Terry Estep.
* Third, lifestyles page, Tresa Taylor
"While it's always great to win awards, and we are very pleased that our professional peers have judged our work to be 'award-winning,' it's far more important that we provide a consistently reliable, useful, viable and informative product to our readers. The readers truly are the judges who have the final say on our product and its value to them," said Jim Smith executive editor. "The News and Sentinel has a great staff, which we sometimes don't say often enough,"
Matt Tranquill, advertising manager, was appreciative of representing the Parkersburg newspaper.
"I am honored to have received this award for the newspaper," Tranquill said. "This accomplishment shows that our team understands how to creatively and effectively deliver our advertiser's message."
The advertising department competed in Division 1.
* First, best political ad.
* First, best spot color ad over half page.
* First, best theme page retail.
* Second, best classified display ad.
* Second, best single ad black and white over a half page.
* Second, best color ad over half page.
* Second, best theme pages for retail.
* Third, best agency ad.
* Third, best political ad.
* Third, best recruitment ad.
* Third, best spot color ad over a half page.
* Third, best spot color ad under a half page.
The Martinsburg Journal won first place in general excellence and second place went to the Dominion Post of Morgantown in the division.
